Russia

There is no country quite like Russia. Despite having a relatively small economy, it has been able to maintain global influence through a range of unconventional tactics. How has Vladimir Putin played his country’s weak hand so effectively? And what is his goal?

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Host
  • Gabrielle Sierra
    Director, Podcasting
Credits

Asher Ross - Supervising Producer

Markus Zakaria - Audio Producer and Sound Designer

Rafaela Siewert - Associate Podcast Producer

Episode Guests
  • Jill Dougherty
    Global Fellow, Kennan Institute, Wilson Center
  • Stephen Sestanovich
    George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies
  • Angela Stent
    Director, Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies, Georgetown University

Show Notes

Much of the Western world assumed Russia would slowly fall in line after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Instead, it has charted its own course, and has exerted global influence despite having a relatively weak economy. 

 

Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has demonstrated a surprising willingness to use any tool available to maintain this influence, including cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, foreign election interference, and support for authoritarian regimes. 

 

In this episode, three experts break down the realities of Russian power, Putin’s motivations, and the outlook for U.S.-Russia relations under the Biden administration.

 

Dig Deeper

CFR Resources 

Podcast: “Transition 2021: How Will Biden Handle Russia?,” The President’s Inbox

Has Russia Ended the War Between Armenia and Azerbaijan?,” Stephen Sestanovich

Will Russia’s Constitutional Changes Allow Putin to Hold on to Power?,” Stephen Sestanovich

Putin and Belarus: Five Reasons Not to Save Lukashenko,” Stephen Sestanovich

New START: The Future of U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Control,” Brian L. Sittlow

What’s at Stake With Rising Competition in the Arctic?,” Brian L. Sittlow

Part Three: Huawei’s Role in the China-Russia Technological Partnership,” Lauren Dudley

Cyber Operations Tracker,” Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program

Russia Is Losing the Oil War—and the Middle East,” Steven A. Cook

U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Control,” CFR.org Editors

Ukraine: Conflict at the Crossroads of Europe and Russia,” Jonathan Masters

Let Russia Be Russia,” Thomas Graham, Foreign Affairs

Russia’s Perpetual Geopolitics,” Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs


 

From Jill Dougherty

Audio: “Episode 12: The Putin Generation,” KennanX

Audio: “Why Study Russia?,” The Russia File

Is There Really a ‘Putin Generation?’,” Wilson Center

 

From Angela Stent

Why are US-Russia relations so challenging?,” Brookings Institution

Putin 5.0?,” Brookings Institution

Russia and China: Axis of revisionists? Brookings Institution

How Putin Changed Russia Forever,” Foreign Policy

 

Read More

Watch: “Why the World Worries About Russia’s Natural Gas Pipeline,” Washington Post

Watch: “What has Russia gained from five years of fighting in Syria?,” Al Jazeera

Watch: “Russian Hackers Broke Into Federal Agencies, U.S. Officials Suspect,” New York Times

Watch: “How Russia Wins the Climate Crisis,” New York Times

Watch: “Biden to Face a Confrontational Russia in a World Changed From His Time in Office,” New York Times

 

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