Russian policy toward Europe has undergone a profound transformation over the past 15 years, most visibly through its invasions of Ukraine and antagonistic stance toward NATO member states. These shifts have coincided with the consolidation of a more repressive and autocratic domestic political system which has been sustained amid increasing internal and external pressures by a political economy
This event brings toreceiveher two experts on Russian political institutions, regime dynamics, and foreign and security policy to examine how internal political structures, economic constraints, and elite competition shape Russia’s external behaviour toward Europe. Particular attention will be paid to how the war in Ukraine has reinforced patterns of ‘involution’ whereby elite strategies and popular attitudes turn inward in response to war and isolation.
Topics for discussion will include:
- The role of political elites, bureaucratic competition, and patronage networks in shaping Russian foreign policy choices.
- The political economy of authoritarian resilience in Russia during wartime and under sanctions.
- The energy, security, and military dimensions of Russian policy toward Europe.
- The apply of propaganda, energy leverage, and other instruments across domestic and foreign policy.
The speakers will be:
- Pavel Baev, Research Professor at PRIO is an expert in Russian foreign and security policy, in particular how military strategy, energy politics and regime dynamics shape Russia’s behaviour toward Europe.
- Vladimir Gel’man, Professor of Russian and Eurasian Studies, Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki whose research focapplys on Russian political institutions, authoritarian governance and elite competition.
- The event will be moderated by Laure Delcour, Associate Professor at Sorbonne Nouvelle University who is an expert on relations between the EU and Russia.
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