The Russia Program

Satinsky Archive reminds us: Western business built much of 1990s Russia’s modern economy — even as politics pulled apart. Peter Gerwe, Henrik Winther, Fred Berliner, Joel Schatz, Paul Heth & Derk Sauer all helped shape media, finance, food, and culture. russiapost.info/economy/the_sa…

Don’t miss RIMA Fest 2025 — a global gathering on digital memory, truth & resistance. 📅 Nov 8-9 | 🌍 Hybrid: Berlin · NYC · Online Details 👉 fest.rima.media

📢 Join us at the next CORUSCANT seminar in Paris! 🗓️ Wed 19 Nov, 4–6PM (Condorcet Campus + online) Dr Annamaria Kiss (Queen Mary University of London) will discuss how Russia framed and used foreign fighters in its discourse and policy on Syria. Discussant: Dr Anne Le Huérou.…

Estimating the Real Size of Russia’s Mobilization Reserve Based on publicly available data, the size of Russia’s mobilization reserve appears to be far smaller than some official estimates suggest. According to Kommersant [1], the government allocates around 14 billion rubles…

In “Illiberalism, Putin & the Politics of Religion,” Marlene Laruelle unpacks how the Kremlin fuses nationalism, Eurasianism & Orthodox identity to undergird its illiberal project—and what that means for Russia’s future & the war in Ukraine. Listen here ralphbuncheinstitute.org/illiberalism-p…

📢 Event: From Russia with Love — Corruption & Sanctions Bypass in the Ukraine War Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has fueled new corruption and sanctions-evasion networks. Join experts to explore how regime elites move money, bypass restrictions, and how civil society pushes back.…

What do Russians actually read for news—and where can independent outlets break through? ➡️ therussiaprogram.org/read_for_news Alesya Sokolova’s latest policy study (Sept. 3, 2025) uncovers a striking divide: 44% of Telegram users follow pro-government channels, while just 14% follow…

📢 New Research. From Wages to Loyalty: How Economics Fuels Political Allegiance in Russia therussiaprogram.org/from_wages_to_… Ever wondered how economic policy subtly shapes public loyalty? A recent analysis reveals a striking trend: from 2021 to 2024, Russia’s personal income tax (PIT)…

📢 New Research Paper. Russia & Iran: Tactical Allies, Strategic Rivals in Syria? 👉 therussiaprogram.org/diverging_alli… Since 2015, Russia and Iran have propped up Assad’s regime side-by-side. But beneath their battlefield cooperation lies a growing rift. 🔹 Russia wants a stable,…

🚀 New Research Paper : The Rise of Soviet Asian and African Studies in the Era of Decolonization 🔗 therussiaprogram.org/onlinepaper_17 Just published by The Russia Program at GW. Our new research dives into the emergence and evolution of Soviet-era academic engagement with Asia and…

💼🇷🇺 "Doing business in 1990s Russia? You didn’t just need a lawyer—you needed a bodyguard." therussiaprogram.org/satinsky_archi… After the Soviet collapse, Western businessmen rushed into Russia chasing gold-rush opportunities. What they found was a jungle of mafia clans, bribes, and…

🚨 Sharp Rise in Politicized Prosecutions in Russia New data from our research reveals a chilling trend: Russia is dramatically expanding its use of criminal law to suppress dissent. therussiaprogram.org/politicized_law 🔺 "Inciting terrorism or justification of such" (Art. 205.2) cases…

🚨New research paper. How law in Russia has evolved into a tool of authoritarian governance? Russian law enforcement has become a tool of statecraft—not just crime-fighting. From branding NGOs as “foreign agents” and “undesirable” to silencing independent media, religion, and…

The Use of Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine: Russian Public Opinion Shifts Russians are now significantly less likely to believe that the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine could be justified. Currently, only 24% of respondents say it could be justified — a notable decline from 39% one…

Moscow pauses negotiating, pushing harsher rhetoric—Putin anchoring all of Ukraine as “ours.” Meanwhile, Ukraine’s frontline is stabilizing. Read the analysis of the situation on the frontlines: russiapost.info/politics/battl…

🗳 Levada Center Survey: Russians on the Iran-Israel Conflict. A new poll conducted in June 2025 shows how Russians view the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel: 🔹 61% of respondents said they support neither side. 🔸 29% expressed sympathy for Iran. 🔷 Only 3% sided with…

Russians are increasingly viewing Donald Trump in a positive light — a sharp shift from the end of his first term, when over a third saw him negatively. Source: FOM poll

The “Dark Enlightenment” is gaining traction—anti-democracy, pro-tech monarchy. Its ideas echo in Russia’s authoritarian drift: hierarchy over equality, control over freedom. Silicon Valley meets Kremlin logic. Read the analysis by Marlene Laruelle russiapost.info/politics/dark_…

Life satisfaction in Russia hits a new record: 🔹 89% of Russians say they’re satisfied with their lives 🔻 Only 10% are dissatisfied Satisfaction has steadily grown — from 59% in Feb 2000 to 89% in April 2024 Source: Levada-Center

📢 Calling displaced scholars! Join STEP U.S. practical workshop on applying for academic grants 🎓💡 🗓️ Learn how to find the right opportunities 🛠️ Get tips to craft competitive proposals 📚 Perfect for early- & mid-career scholars 🔗 Register now: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regist…