Insights

Explore economic and ethnic variation across the Russian Empire on the cusp of the Great Reforms.

George Krol remembers an accidental leader whose brief political career mirrored the greater tragedy of his country.

Anxieties about children’s historical education have been co-opted by the Kremlin to marginalize political opposition and generate support for the war in Ukraine, writes Sydney Stotter.

Putin’s indifference to the short-term costs of war and his overestimation of Russia’s military power may ultimately threaten his long-term interests, writes Alexandra Vacroux in Barron’s.

Rather than promoting a narrative of triumph and victory, comparisons of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to World War II reveal its inherent immorality, writes Mark Kramer.

As Russia’s war in Ukraine progresses, Putin must balance the implementation of military strategy with selling the conflict to the Russian public, write Natia Gamkrelidze and Tinatin Japaridze in MEI.

I don’t use ‘totalitarianism’ lightly. But that’s what we’re witnessing, writes Francine Hirsch in The Boston Globe.

The limits of Russia’s infrastructure provide a way to slash Putin’s oil revenue, avert a price shock for the West and fund Ukraine reparations, writes Craig Kennedy in Politico.

Rereading Russian Energy Chains under the thunder of this new war brings forth uncomfortable—and hopeful—questions about the future, writes Center Associate Margarita Balmaceda.