home > the cfr think tank > experts > stephen sestanovich
George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies
Contact Info:
Phone: +1-202-509-8454
E-mail: ssestanovich@cfr.org
Location:
Washington, DC
Media downloads:
One-page bio (PDF, 51K)
Video clip (MP4, 1.3 MB)
Former ambassador-at-large and special adviser to the secretary of state for policy toward the states of the former Soviet Union. Directed the CFR-sponsored Independent Task Force that produced the report Russia’s Wrong Direction: What the United States Can and Should Do.
Expertise:Russia and the former Soviet Union; Caucasus and Central Asia; U.S. foreign policy.
Experience:Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor in the Practice of International Diplomacy, Columbia University (2001-present); Ambassador-at-large and Special Adviser to the Secretary for the new independent states, U.S. Department of State (1997-2001); Vice President for Russian and Eurasian Affairs, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (1994-97); Director of Soviet and East European Studies [Russian and Eurasian Studies after 1991], Center for Strategic and International Studies (1987-94); Senior Director for Policy Development, National Security Council (1985-87); Director of Political-Military Affairs, National Security Council (1984-85); member, policy planning staff, U.S. Department of State (1981-84); Senior Legislative Assistant for Foreign Policy, office of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1980-81); Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science, Columbia University (1979-80); Assistant Professor of Political Science, graduate faculty, The New School for Social Research (1978-80).
Languages:Russian, German, and Spanish (familiar).
Selected Publications:Russia’s Wrong Direction: What the United States Can and Should Do, Report of an Independent Task Force (Council on Foreign Relations Press, 2006).
Current Research Projects
Past Research Projects
August 6, 2009
Op-Ed
Washington Post
Stephen Sestanovich discusses Vice President Joseph Biden's recent statements on Russia.
See more in United States, Russian Fed., U.S. Strategy and Politics
June 30, 2009
Transcript
CFR Experts Charles D. Ferguson and Stephen Sestanovich discuss the Obama-Medvedev summit.
See more in Russian Fed., Defense/Homeland Security, U.S. Strategy and Politics
July 1, 2009
Interview
CFR's top Russia expert, Stephen Sestanovich, says there is a potential for some hard bargaining to take place over arms control at the July 6-8 summit of U.S. and Russian leaders.
See more in Russian Fed., Defense/Homeland Security, U.S. Strategy and Politics
June 30, 2009
Audio
Listen to CFR Experts Charles D. Ferguson and Stephen Sestanovich discuss the Obama-Medvedev summit.
May 20, 2009
Op-Ed
New York Times
Stephen Sestanovich discusses the Jackson-Vanik amendment and its role in defining American policy toward the Soviet Union.
See more in Russian Fed., U.S. Strategy and Politics, Congress and Foreign Policy
April 24, 2009
Op-Ed
Washington Post
Stephen Sestanovich argues that the president's ability to overhaul the U.S. foreign policy agenda depends heavily on how the administration deals with Congress.
See more in United States, Congress and Foreign Policy
April 1, 2009
Op-Ed
Foreign Policy
Stephen Sestanovich argues that Europe's initial reactions toward President Obama may be in line with history.
See more in Europe/Russia, U.S. Strategy and Politics, Foreign Policy History
March 19, 2009
Testimony
See more in United States, Russian Fed., U.S. Strategy and Politics
February 26, 2009
Transcript
A panel discussion on present and future relations between NATO, Russia, and Eastern Europe.
See more in Russian Fed., NATO
February 25, 2009
Video
Watch experts debate topics such as how NATO should deal with Russia in the aftermath of the war in Georgia, the membership status of Ukraine and Georgia, President Medvedev’s proposal for a summit on European security, and others as part of the Council on Foreign Relations "NATO at 60" Symposium.
See more in Russian Fed., NATO, International Organizations
February 25, 2009
Audio
Listen to experts debate topics such as how NATO should deal with Russia in the aftermath of the war in Georgia, the membership status of Ukraine and Georgia, President Medvedev’s proposal for a summit on European security, and others as part of the Council on Foreign Relations "NATO at 60" Symposium.
See more in Russian Fed., NATO, International Organizations
January 22, 2009
Transcript
Session Two explores how Russia's foreign policy may be influenced by domestic events and policies.
See more in Russian Fed.
January 22, 2009
Video
Watch experts give insight into Russian foreign policy including the recent energy conflict and Russia's actions in the Caucasus region.
See more in Russian Fed., U.S. Strategy and Politics
January 22, 2009
Audio
Listen to experts give insight into Russian foreign policy including the recent energy conflict and Russia's actions in the Caucasus region.
See more in Russian Fed., U.S. Strategy and Politics
November 25, 2008
Expert Brief
Russia's toughest economic challenge since the collapse of 1998 could lead it to a less confrontational foreign policy and a loss of international standing, writes CFR's Stephen Sestanovich.
See more in Russian Fed., Economic Development, Financial Crises
November/December 2008
Foreign Affairs Article — Summary
The next president will have to reassess the U.S.-Russian relationship and find the right balance between pushing back and cooperating.
See more in United States, Russian Fed.
August 12, 2008
Daily Opinion Roundup
In Tuesday's Roundup: Debate hits new low in Pakistan, Raul Castro redefines Socialism for the worse, and Georgia's gathering crisis.
August 11, 2008
Audio
Listen to CFR senior fellows discuss the ongoing conflict between Russia and Georgia.
See more in Georgia, Russian Fed.
August 11, 2008
Transcript
A CFR conference call on the Russia/Georgia conflict.
See more in Europe/Russia, Sovereignty
August 11, 2008
Interview
Stephen Sestanovich, CFR’s top Russia expert,says the fighting between Georgia and Russia is more a “war” than a “conflict,” and could have far-reaching consequences.
See more in Georgia, Russian Fed., Wars and Warfare
Explore the international oceans regime with a new interactive from CFR's program on International Institutions and Global Governance.
This report explores how international legal rules regarding military force might evolve to better meet the challenges of mass atrocities.
The authors of this CSR explain why the United States needs to place greater emphasis on preventive action and how current organizational arrangements can be changed to meet that need.
This report addresses pan-Asian and trans-Pacific architectures and guidelines for how the United States can revise its approach in order to consolidate and improve the efficacy of these Asian institutions.
Complete list of Council Special Reports
Through compelling analysis and rich historical examples that span the globe and range from the thirteenth century through the present, Charles A. Kupchan explores how adversaries can transform enmity into amity, and exposes prevalent myths about the causes of peace.
With the insights of geopolitical experts and investors, the authors examine Israel's adversity-driven culture to offer prescriptions for a global economy on the rebound.
Vali Nasr reveals that there is a vital but unseen rising force in the Islamic world—a new business-minded middle class—that is building a vibrant new Muslim world economy and that holds the key to winning the cold war against Iran and extremists.
Complete list of CFR Books
For more information on the David Rockefeller Studies Program, contact:
James M. Lindsay
Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair
+1.212.434.9626 (NY); +1.202.509.8405 (DC)
jlindsay@cfr.org
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Deputy Director of Studies Administration
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