The Russia File

Russia and the West: Highs and Lows

Dec 16, 2021

Over the past 10 years or so, Russia’s relations with the West have been reaching new lows. In bilateral terms, no other relationship has been more indicative of that trajectory than the one with Great Britain. The story of Russian-British ties, partnership, and animosity is thus important to explore.

Joining the...

The Autocrats’ Playbook: Putin’s Russia and Erdogan’s Turkey

Jul 22, 2021

Many prefer to measure today's authoritarian regimes against the West’s standards in everything from governance to culture. But taking a closer look at the authoritarian world itself and studying its evolution is probably more illuminating.

Despite constant geopolitical infighting, Russia and Turkey display striking...

The Contemporary Relevance of Andrei Sakharov's Message

Jun 7, 2021

A Soviet nuclear physicist and Nobel laureate, Andrei Sakharov fought for disarmament, world peace, and human rights. To what extent is his legacy relevant for today’s Russia and the world? What is the state of those values now, at a time when autocracies are on the rise and new international conflicts are...

Rethinking the Space Race

Apr 23, 2021

The Soviet pilot Yuri Gagarin made his pioneering spaceflight 60 years ago. In the USSR, it marked a time of optimistic, forward-looking modernization, of which the Soviet space program was the hallmark.

Maxim Trudolyubov discusses the Soviet-American space race and today’s newfound space enthusiasm with Victoria...

Weak Strongman: Discussing the Limits of Putin's Power with Timothy Frye

Apr 9, 2021

Russia is often seen as a country that was led astray by a former KGB officer, Vladimir Putin. Informed by his training and character, it is often implied, he turned himself into an all-powerful ruler and turned Russia into the autocracy it is today. But what if he simply was helpless to do any better and is not in...