Russia

Do Baltic Russian Speakers Blame Russia for the War in Ukraine?

The Baltic states are among the most ardent supporters of Ukraine in the war against Russia. It is widely understood that Ukraine is fighting not only for its survival and the right to determine its path forward, but also...

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After 75? Wither NATO?

 Revisiting Orbis Article:  Elbridge Colby and Ian Brzezinski, “How NATO Manages the ‘Bear’ and the ‘Dragon,’” Orbis 65:1 (Winter 2021) This July, leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will convene in Washington for a historic 75th anniversary...

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Grasslands to Global Stage: The Geopolitics of Mongolia

Mongolia is the least densely populated country on Earth. A semi-nomadic society situated in northern Asia’s grassy steppes and Gobi Desert, few outsiders take the time to understand this young democracy beyond taking an interest in its most famous...

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China, Russia, and Power Transition in Central Asia

    “It was the rise of Athens and the fear that this inspired in Sparta that made war inevitable.” Thucydides, 5th Century BCE   Since the days of Thucydides, scholars have written about—and policymakers have wrestled with—the dangers...

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Georgia’s Foreign Agents Law and Resulting Protests

For weeks, tens of thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets of Tbilisi and other cities to protest their government’s attempt to pass a so-called “foreign agents law,” which they claim is intended to neutralize civil society and...

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Russia Launches New Offensive in Ukraine

Russia launched a new offensive near Kharkiv, amidst continuing questions about Ukraine’s ability to mobilize enough manpower to blunt Russian advantages. FPRI President Aaron Stein sat down with Senior Fellow Rob Lee on May 13, 2024 to discuss the...

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The Baltic States Mark Two Decades of NATO Membership

Indra Ekmanis: Hello, and welcome to Baltic Ways, a podcast bringing you interviews and insights from the world of Baltic studies. I’m your host, Dr. Indra Ekmanis. And today we speak with Dr. Lucas Milevski, a tenured assistant professor...

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Government vs. the People in Georgia

In April of this year the Georgian government submitted to parliament a controversial “foreign agents law,” sparking massive anti-government demonstrations in Tbilisi. Tens of thousands of Georgians took to the streets protesting what has been dubbed the “Russian law,”...

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Russia and China in Central Asia: Potential for Direct Competition

       Executive Summary China is now undisputedly the leading economic partner for the Central Asia region, with trade and investment continuing to increase despite Beijing’s economic slowdown. Russia is still the dominant political partner for the region,...

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Kyrgyzstan: Central Asia’s Island of Democracy Sinks Into Authoritarianism

Listen to a conversation with the Author  Executive Summary In the early 1990s, Kyrgyzstan was often referred to as an “island of democracy” in Central Asia. The “island’s” shores have receded over the years, but relative to its neighbors,...

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