The Kremlin has another weapon in its arsenal: Migration policy Caress Schenk - April 11, 2022 How committed is Russia to embracing Slavic migrants from Ukraine and beyond?
Central Asian countries now have two big worries about Russia Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili - March 2, 2022 Moscow has seen little support this week from these countries.
In words and deeds, Putin shows he’s rejecting even Soviet-era borders Daniel Treisman - February 25, 2022 His speech this week makes it clear he’s out to restore “historic Russia”
If Russia invades Ukraine, what happens next? David Lake - January 22, 2022 Many Ukrainians wouldn’t favor a pro-Russian leader — but would the U.S. support an anti-Russian insurgency?
Kazakhstan’s protesters weren’t happy about government corruption. Will anything change? Margaret Hanson - January 20, 2022 Here’s what my research found
Kazakhstan called for assistance. Why did Russia dispatch troops so quickly? Alexander Cooley - January 9, 2022 Preserving autocracies is a primary goal for regional organizations like the CSTO.
The Kazakhstan protests escalated quickly. Here’s why. Regina Smyth and Pauline Jones - January 8, 2022 We found these two factors at work.
Kazakhstan’s leaders promised middle-class comfort. Then they raised prices. Edward Schatz - January 7, 2022 Protesters aren’t benefiting from Kazakhstan’s oil economy.
Fewer Africans think taxes are legitimate. That’s a problem. Thomas Isbell and Lulu Olan’g - February 25, 2021 How citizens view taxation could be critical to government responses to emergencies such as the coronavirus
What’s Vladimir Putin’s end game? Other post-Soviet autocrats give a few clues. Timothy Frye - July 2, 2020 Here’s why he will try to stay in power.
During the pandemic, Russia and the U.S. have these 3 things in common Caress Schenk - May 5, 2020 Governments like to use data to show they are doing something
Mike Pompeo criticized China for not respecting its neighbors’ territorial integrity. What’s the story? M. Taylor Fravel - February 21, 2020 Here’s how Beijing has resolved territorial disputes
Vladimir Putin follows a long Russian tradition of enlightened autocrats Ani Kokobobo - February 3, 2020 Like the czars, he sometimes shares power.
Yes, Putin cares about Trump’s impeachment trial — but not for the reason you might imagine Jessica Pisano - January 24, 2020 He has another target in mind
Why are there anti-China protests in Central Asia? Bradley Jardine - October 16, 2019 The region is important to Beijing’s security strategy
Where else do leaders do what Trump is accused of? Start with Russia. Scott Radnitz - October 3, 2019 And he has plenty of chances to do it again.
Chernobyl’s effects go far beyond what you’re seeing on HBO. It shook up geopolitics for years. Mariana Budjeryn - July 15, 2019 From the Soviet Union’s fall to Ukraine’s nuclear disarmament, the disaster changed the region.
Kazakhstan’s police are cracking down on protesters — as political activism keeps rising. Erica Marat - June 20, 2019 It’s a conflict familiar in post-Soviet nations: Democratic expectations meet unreformed police forces.
What happens to Kazakhstan’s dictatorship now that its dictator has quit? Austin S. Matthews - April 24, 2019 Former Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pose
Kazakh President Nazarbayev has resigned. Here are three things to watch. Eric McGlinchey - March 20, 2019 A managed succession may be a hard promise to keep.
Without the INF Treaty, Europe could see a new missile power. (Spoiler: It’s not Russia.) Mariana Budjeryn - February 25, 2019 The treaty also curtailed missile programs in former Soviet states.
It’s been one year since Zimbabwe toppled Mugabe. Why isn’t it a democracy yet? Mwita Chacha and Jonathan Powell - November 17, 2018 [caption id="attachment_80093" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa addresses the
Russia is building a new Napster — but for academic research Joe Karaganis and Balazs Bodo - July 13, 2018 [caption id="attachment_75613" align="aligncenter" width="960"] (iStock)[/caption] What will future historians see
Russia used to see itself as part of Europe. Here’s why that changed. Andrew Foxall - June 18, 2018 [caption id="attachment_74544" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a
This is why North Korea reacted so strongly to Bolton’s mention of the ‘Libya model’ Elizabeth N. Saunders - May 17, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73514" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People watch a TV screen showing
Trump doesn’t like the Iran deal’s sunset provisions. Here’s how to fix that. Dinshaw Mistry - April 25, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72643" align="alignnone" width="960"] French President Emmanuel Macron, left, with
Why Putin’s oil maneuvers will keep Russia in the Middle East Nicholas Trickett - April 5, 2018 [caption id="attachment_71814" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A worker passes an illuminated drilling
100,000 troops will engage in Russia’s Zapad-2017 war games Simon Saradzhyan - September 13, 2017 [caption id="attachment_63490" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man watches Russian military jets
China is trying to pull Middle East countries into its version of NATO Jonathan Fulton - June 21, 2017 [caption id="attachment_60134" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The daily flag-lowering ceremony at sunset
The U.S. carried out extraordinary rendition flights from 2001-2005. Here are 15 more countries that helped. Rebecca Cordell - March 14, 2017 [caption id="attachment_55337" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A barbed wire fence surrounding a
Many Syrians are skeptical of peace talks. Here’s why. Dareen Khalifa - February 3, 2017 [caption id="attachment_53522" align="aligncenter" width="960"] From left: Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy
The U.S. was ripe for a women’s protest. And more are likely. Dursun Peksen and Amanda Murdie - January 28, 2017 This is the third post in our series on what social
Kazakhstan had huge protests, but no violent crackdown. Here’s why. Erica Marat - June 6, 2016 [caption id="attachment_41674" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Riot police stand guard during a
Should the U.S. worry about tensions between Shiite and Sunni Muslims in central Asia? Sebastien Peyrouse - May 15, 2016 [caption id="attachment_40467" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] People gather for the monument unveiling
Putin just sent Armenia MiG-29 fighters and military aid. Here are three key reasons why. Samuel Ramani - April 14, 2016 In February 2016, the Russian air force announced that MiG-29
Surprise! Belarus’s Lukashenko wins a fifth term in a landslide! (Okay, no surprise. Here’s what happened.) Matthew Frear - October 22, 2015 [caption id="attachment_31002" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, left, Belarus
Is Kazakhstan's 'dialogue of civilizations' all about image, or doing some real good? - June 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26523" align="aligncenter" width="982"] View of The Palace of Peace
Is Kazakhstan’s ‘dialogue of civilizations’ all about image, or doing some real good? Marlene Laruelle - June 27, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26523" align="aligncenter" width="982"] View of The Palace of Peace
How to understand the post-Soviet 'war of lapels' Joshua Tucker - May 8, 2015 [caption id="attachment_24471" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Poppies decorate the citizen-made memorial to
How to understand the post-Soviet ‘war of lapels’ Sean Roberts and Robert Orttung - May 8, 2015 [caption id="attachment_24471" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Poppies decorate the citizen-made memorial to
The power of soft power in Kazakhstan Marlene Laruelle - May 1, 2015 [caption id="attachment_24171" align="alignnone" width="620" class="align center"] Traffic moves past reelection
How democratic institutions are making dictatorships more durable Erica Frantz and Andrea Kendall-Taylor - March 19, 2015 [caption id="attachment_22871" align="alignnone" width="620"] Supporters of Sudanese President and National
Counter-terrorism in Central Asia requires international cooperation Galymzhan Kirbassov - December 26, 2014 [caption id="attachment_19433" align="alignnone" width="620"] FILE: Then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
How Putin turned Ukraine to the West Oxana Shevel - October 29, 2014 [caption id="attachment_17378" align="alignnone" width="620"] Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko holds his
Finding Ukraine on a map, revisited Thomas Zeitzoff, Kyle Dropp, and Joshua Kertzer - April 18, 2014 Joshua Tucker: Last week we featured a guest post from political
What Putin gets about soft power Tomila Lankina and Kinga Niemczyk - April 15, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special="MANDATORY CREDIT "] Russian President Vladimir
The less Americans know about Ukraine’s location, the more they want U.S. to intervene Thomas Zeitzoff, Kyle Dropp, and Joshua Kertzer - April 7, 2014 [caption id="attachment_9091" align="aligncenter" width="600" special=""] Where’s Ukraine? Each dot depicts
The end of the Putin mystique Steven Fish - April 3, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special="POOL"] Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks
If Ukraine expropriates Russian firms, other multinationals probably won’t care Rachel Wellhausen - March 27, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A member of a Ukrainian
Crimea: Putin’s Olympic diversion Kimberly Marten - March 26, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Russian opposition activist and anti-corruption
To strengthen claims on Crimea, Russia and Ukraine woo Crimean Tatars Oxana Shevel - March 25, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Crimean Tatars gathered for the
The downsides of Crimea for Russia Timothy Frye - March 19, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Participants in a rally in
Building a federal Ukraine? James Hughes and Gwendolyn Sasse - March 19, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Participants in a pro-Ukraine rally
Vladimir Putin: Ethnic Russian Nationalist Kimberly Marten - March 19, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A staff person watches a
Why the leaders of Kazakhstan are not (yet) losing sleep over Crimea Galymzhan Kirbassov - March 17, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] People holding Russian flags gather
Why Ukraine's crisis keeps central Asian leaders up at night Sean Roberts and Marlene Laruelle - March 7, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A protester holds a placard
Why Ukraine’s crisis keeps central Asian leaders up at night Sean Roberts and Marlene Laruelle - March 7, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A protester holds a placard
Is Crimean independence or annexation a good outcome for Russia? Nadiya Kravets and Helena Yakovlev-Golani - March 6, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Members of a pro Russian
How Putin’s worldview may be shaping his response in Crimea - March 3, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A woman holds a board
How Putin's worldview may be shaping his response in Crimea Joshua Tucker - March 3, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A woman holds a board
Why secular but illiberal governments are no guarantee of religious freedom Erik Voeten - February 28, 2014 Kara Downey is a PhD candidate at Stanford University who
Why are people protesting in Ukraine? Providing historical context Joshua Tucker - December 19, 2013 [caption id="attachment_4309" align="aligncenter" width="600" special=""] Yanukovych supporters wave flags during
What you need to know about the causes of the Ukrainian protests Joshua Tucker - December 9, 2013 Joshua Tucker: As events escalate in Ukraine, we bring you
The Challenges of Electoral Competition in an Oil Rich State: Azerbaijani Pre-Election Report Joshua Tucker - October 6, 2013 Continuing our series of Election Reports, the following is a
Could Fossil Fuel Abundance Have Negative Political Consequences? Erik Voeten - May 6, 2013 Charles Mann has an interesting article in the Atlantic about
Central Asia Grows Wobbly Joshua Tucker - September 27, 2012 Central Asia is entering a decade of heightened instability. Aging
Making Voters Count: Field Experiments with Domestic Election Observers Joshua Tucker - August 30, 2012 This following is a guest-post from Fredrik M Sjoberg, a
Post-Election Report: Kyrgyz President Joshua Tucker - November 2, 2011 As part of our continuing series of election reports, we
Putin in 2012: Expert Analysis Joshua Tucker - September 26, 2011 Following up on my "previous post":http://tmc.org/blog/2011/09/25/putin-in-2012-guest-commentary-2/, here are a number
Who Should Lead a Multipolar World? Erik Voeten - October 8, 2010 Below is another guest post from the formidable James Vreeland
How the Kyrgyz Events Could have been a Civil War Joshua Tucker - April 13, 2010 Professor "Scott Radnitz":http://faculty.washington.edu/srad/ sends along the following comments on last
More Expert Commentary on Kyrgyzstan Joshua Tucker - April 9, 2010 Professor "Lucan Way":http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/polsci/faculty_staff/ourfaculty/way_lucan.html, last seen at the Monkey Cage "writing
Who Will Watch the Watchers? A Critique of Stratfor’s Russia Commentary Joshua Tucker - March 17, 2010 A while ago "I recommended":https://themonkeycage.org/2009/08/russian_military_reform_blog.html Dmitry Gorenburg's blog on "Russian