Podcast appearances and mentions of Richard Sakwa

Donald Trump lashed out at Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that he is "playing with fire", because the US has been unable to end the Ukraine war on its own terms. Political economist Radhika Desai analyzes the geopolitical situation with Russia expert Richard Sakwa. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL1ObLixT8M This is part of the program Geopolitical Economy Hour. You can watch other episodes of the show here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

On today's episode we examine how broader shifts in the global order, globalization and geopolitical trends since the end of the Cold War led to the current European security crisis and political context for the Russo-Ukraine War. We also explore how this context shapes Georgia's geopolitical and security environment, and is sowing the seeds for more open discussions about what geopolitical neutrality and explicit multi-vectorism could mean for Georgia. With guest co-host Beka Natsvlishvili, we welcome Richard Sakwa on to Reimagining Soviet Georgia. Richard Sakwa is Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of Kent, U.K. His research interests include: political developments in Russia, international politics and the Second Cold War, multipolarity and global realignments, prospects for socialism, problems of European and global order, the English School and international systems. A description of Sakwa's recent book The Lost Peace: How the West Failed to Prevent a Second Cold War (2023, Yale University Press) below:The end of the Cold War was an opportunity—our inability to seize it has led to today's renewed era of great power competition The year 1989 heralded a unique prospect for an enduring global peace as harsh ideological divisions and conflicts began to be resolved. Now, three decades on, that peace has been lost. With war in Ukraine and increasing tensions between China, Russia, and the West, great power politics once again dominates the world stage. But could it have been different? Richard Sakwa shows how the years before the first mass invasion of Ukraine represented a hiatus in conflict rather than a lasting accord—and how, since then, we have been in a “Second Cold War.” Tracing the mistakes on both sides that led to the current crisis, Sakwa considers the resurgence of China and Russia and the disruptions and ambitions of the liberal order that opened up catastrophic new lines of conflict. This is a vital, strongly argued account of how the world lost its chance at peace, and instead saw the return of war in Europe, global rivalries, and nuclear brinksmanship.

Can the Donald Trump administration really end the Ukraine war? What is Russia's view? Why did the US fuel the conflict in the first place? These issues are discussed by political economist Radhika Desai, Russia expert Richard Sakwa, and China-based economic geographer Mick Dunford. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR3_KKf6kUY This is part of the program Geopolitical Economy Hour. You can watch other episodes of the show here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP Topics 0:00 Intro 7:08 Historical moment 9:39 NATO 13:30 Multipolarity 15:00 Imperialism & rent extraction 19:03 West lost Ukraine war 20:12 Can Trump end the war? 22:50 Russian view 26:03 Divide Russia and China 28:44 Trump's strategy 32:22 Isolationism 34:39 Russia-China alignment 37:16 Reverse Nixon 38:16 Root causes 40:07 Geopolitical shift 43:37 Trump is symbol of crisis 45:14 Dollar system 46:01 European politics 46:42 Trump's vision 47:44 US-Russia relations 48:29 ASEAN spirit 50:02 Europe's warfare state 54:18 Europe's deindustrialization 58:56 Western double standards 1:00:31 Russia's perspective 1:03:18 Russia's demands 1:06:12 Ukraine's civil war 1:07:40 Outro

When viewed from above the North Pole, the Earth rotates from left to right and now some of its inhabitants appear to be headed the same way. From Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy through Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party in the Netherlands to Germany's AfD party and the ever-encroaching Chega (Enough) party in Portugal, the boots on the ground appear to be facing one way, so are we looking at a new world order that's suddenly leaning towards the right?  Plus, is war finally over for Ukraine? What is NATO really for? What is the true meaning of power and how do we grab it? And did we finally answer all the questions Sarah Vine's mum asked of us? On our reading list this week:  ·      Frontline Ukraine: Crisis in the Borderlands – Richard Sakwa ·      How the West Brought War to Ukraine: Understanding How U.S. and NATO Policies Led to Crisis, War, and the Risk of Nuclear Catastrophe – Benjamin Abelow ·      A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles de Gaulle – Julian Jackson To get in touch, email: alas@dailymail.co.uk, you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas'.   Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter Hitchens Producer: Philip Wilding Editor: Chelsey Moore Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Executive Producer: Jamie East   A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the late Dmitri Furman's account of post-Soviet Russia. Patreon Exclusive: for the Reading Club, join for $12/mo and get access to ALL Bungacast content, incl. 4 exclusive, original episodes a month We continue our discussions along this year's themes (rise and fall of nations; Russia past and present) by tackling Imitation Democracy: The Development of Russia's Post-Soviet Political System. Why has there been a revival in interest in the late Soviet and early post-Soviet period? And in the global 1990s in general? What does it really mean to be without-alternative? Why didn't democracy take hold in Russia? And why did it become an "imitation democracy" and not something else? How was Yeltsin a disaster? And what was Putin's appeal? Does 'Putinism' actually exist? Is it interesting or novel in any way? What happened after Furman's death and Russia's turn to "violent parody of the West"? Readings: Imitation Democracy: The Development of Russia's Post-Soviet Political System, Dmitri Furman, Verso Imitation Democracies: The Post-Soviet Penumbra, Dmitri Furman, New Left Review (pdf) Imitation Democracy: Perry Anderson writes about Dmitri Furman's analysis of Russia's post-communism, Perry Anderson, London Review of Books Listening Links: /114/ Reading Club: The Light That Failed - on the end of the "Age of Imitation" /270/ Russia vs the West ft. Richard Sakwa - on the endgame to war in Ukraine; and /271/ Russia vs the West (2) ft. Richard Sakwa - on the post-Soviet landscape /410/ Reading Club: Deutscher's Stalin - On Isaac Deutscher's classic Stalin: A Political Biography /421/ Who Are the Wrong Ukrainians? ft. Volodymyr Ishchenko - on post-Soviet Ukraine, from Maidan to war   Music: Éva Csepregi, "O.K. Gorbacsov", Hungaroton , WEA, High Fashion Music, Dureco

Frank starts the third hour talking about a Chinese whistleblower group who claim the CCP was responsible for the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. He moves on to talk with Dr. Richard Sakwa, Emeritus Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent in the UK, one of the foremost experts on Russia and the author of the new book The Lost Peace: How the West Failed to Prevent a Second Cold War. They discuss the Russia-Ukraine War and missed opportunities for peace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank starts the show joined by WABC host Dominic Carter to talk about sleep studies and cicadas among other topics. Frank moves on to talk with Elizabeth April, a visionary, UFOlogist and spiritual wellness expert. They discuss her experience with extraterrestrials and communicating with them. Frank talks about his political voting history and who he will be voting for in the 2024 election. He is then joined by his candidate of choice... Frank starts the third hour talking about a Chinese whistleblower group who claim the CCP was responsible for the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. He moves on to talk with Dr. Richard Sakwa, Emeritus Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent in the UK, one of the foremost experts on Russia and the author of the new book The Lost Peace: How the West Failed to Prevent a Second Cold War. They discuss the Russia-Ukraine War and missed opportunities for peace. Frank wraps up the show talking about Elon Musk's Neuralink curing blindness, the popular kids TV show Bluey and more. He is joined by Noam Laden for News You Can Use. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Richard Sakwa, Emeritus Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent in the UK, one of the foremost experts on Russia and the author of the new book “The Lost Peace: How the West Failed to Prevent a Second Cold War” Topic: The Russia-Ukraine war, missed opportunities for peace Bio/website: https://www.kent.ac.uk/politics-international-relations/people/2273/sakwa-richard Book: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Peace-Failed-Prevent-Second/dp/0300255012 Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/richard.sakwa.9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lost Peace - Richard Sakwa, Alexander Mercouris & Glenn Diesen

The third hour started with talk on Crystal Hefner's new book where she is bashing former husband Hugh Hefner. The topic was discussed extensively with callers. In the second half of the hour Frank interviewed Dr. Richard Sakwa, directly from London England, with whom he discussed the war in Ukraine and the war in the middle east.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

러시아 우크라이나 침공 1년... 향후 시나리오는? Guest: Prof. Richard Sakwa, Emeritus Professor of Russian and European Politics from the University of Kent

The recent push to expand NATO in Ukraine along with nations like Finland and Sweden as justified by "Russian aggression" is a good example of what professor Richard Sakwa has called the “fateful geographical paradox: that NATO exists to manage the risks created by its existence.” As the late scholar on US-Russia relations Stephen Cohen explained years before the Ukraine crisis erupted in 2014, Moscow sees NATO as an "American sphere of influence," and the expansion of NATO and NATO influence as expansion of that sphere. It reacts to this with hostility just as the US would react to China or Russia building up aggressive military alliances on its borders, and arguably with vastly more restraint than the US would. Reading by Tim Foley.

As Russia escalates attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine following the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines and the Ukrainian attack on the Kerch bridge, diplomacy is nowhere to be found. Scholar and author Richard Sakwa on the latest in the Ukraine crisis. "The human losses are appalling," Sakwa says. "And yet, the language of peace cannot find an adequate expression." Guest: Richard Sakwa. Emeritus Professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent. His books include “Frontline Ukraine: Crisis in the Borderlands” and his latest, “Deception: Russiagate and the New Cold War.” Support Pushback at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate

On the meaning of Gorbachev.   [Patreon Exclusive]   Mikhail Gorbachev continues to be lauded in Western circles for overseeing the collapse of the Soviet Union without much bloodshed. But given the historic societal disaster that followed, is this status unmerited? How naive was Gorbachev about the wolves at the door? And to what extent was the writing on the wall by the late '80s – was there an alternative path not taken?   Readings: Big Man Walking: Gorbachev's Dispensation, Neal Ascherson, LRB, 2017 Voices of Glasnost review  Why Gorbachev Failed, Slavoj Zizek, Compact   Listenings: OK BUNGER! The Problem of Generations, pt. 4 (on Gen X, the End of History and Soviet collapse) /276/ Broken Promises ft. Fritz Bartel (on the end of the Cold War and the rise of neoliberalism) /270/ Russia vs the West ft. Richard Sakwa (on the geopolitics of NATO expansion)

Episode 105:This week we're continuing Russia in Revolution An Empire in Crisis 1890 - 1928 by S. A. Smith[Part 1]Introduction[Part 2-5]1. Roots of Revolution, 1880s–1905[Part 6-8]2. From Reform to War, 1906-1917[Part 9-12]3. From February to October 1917[Part 13 - 16]4. Civil War and Bolshevik PowerThe Expansion of SovietsNational Self-Determination and the Reconstitution of EmpireViolence and TerrorThe Suppression of the Socialist Opposition[Part 17 - This Week]4. Civil War and Bolshevik PowerOne Party Dictatorship in Action - 0:20Discussion - 23:42[Part 18 - 20?]5. War Communism[Part 21 - 23?]6. The New Economic Policy: Politics and the Economy[Part 24 - 27?]7. The New Economic Policy: Society and Culture[Part 28?]ConclusionFootnotes:77) 2:44Gimpel'son, Formirovanie, 78.78) 6:01Sovetskaia derevnia glazami VChK-OGPU, vol. 1:, 1918–22: Dokumenty i materialy (Moscow: ROSSPEN, 1998), 32.79) 6:42A. I. Chernykh, Stanovlenie Rossii Sovetskoi: 20-e gody v zerkale sotsiologii (Moscow: Pamiatniki Istoricheskoi Mysli, 1998), 262; Richard Sakwa, Soviet Communists in Power: A Study of Moscow during the Civil War, 1918–21 (New York: St Martin's, 1988).80) 7:22State Archive of Perm' Oblast', ГАПО ф. 201, оп.1, д.11, л.7.81) 8:08Robert V. Daniels, The Conscience of the Revolution: Communist Opposition in Soviet Russia (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1960).82) 9:30James Harris, ‘Stalin as General Secretary: The Appointments Process and the Nature of Stalin's Power', in Sarah Davies and James Harris (eds), Stalin: A New History (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005), 66.83) 12:58G. Gimpel'son, Sovetskie upravlentsy, 1917–1920gg. (Moscow: RAN, 1998), 167.84) 13:33I. S. Rat'kovskii and M. V. Khodiakov, Istoriia sovetskoi Rossii (St Petersburg: Lan', 1999), 54.85) 14:01S. A. Pavliuchenkov, Voennyi kommunizm v Rossii: vlast' i massy (Moscow: RKT-Istoriia, 1997), 189.86) 14:31I. V. Pavlova, Stalinizm: Stanovlenie mekhanizma vlasti (Novosibirsk: Sibirskii khronograf, 1993), 50.87) 15:09Gimpel'son, Sovetskie upravlentsy, 203.88) 19:15Bertram D. Wolfe, Strange Communists I Have Known (London: George Allen and Unwin, 1966), 88.89) 20:23Balabanoff, Impressions of Lenin, 102–3.90) 21:03.91) 22:10.92) 23:01Service, Lenin: A Biography, 299; V. I. Lenin, ‘Second All-Russian Congress of Miners', 23 Jan. 1921, .

On reviews of our book, The End of the End of History   A year since the book came out, and two years since we finished writing it, we take a look at published reviews the book has received and respond to them.   Questions addressed include: have we overstated our case? Do we ignore the importance of the 1970s in favour of the 1990s? Might war matter more than class struggle? Is it useful to understood History in the metaphysical/Hegelian sense? Should we be less modernist and dispense with the politics inherited from 1848-1980s? And are we too critical of left-populism?   Reviews War at the End of History, Adam Tooze, Chartbook 109 The End of the End of the End, Sam Kriss, First Things Book Review: The End of the End of History, Jason C. Mueller, Critical Sociology How long is the end of history?, Connor Harney, Platypus Beginning of the End, or End of the Beginning?, Park McDougald, American Affairs Book Review: The End of the End of History, Dan Taylor, Marx & Philosophy Review of Books Certainly the End of Something or Other, Joseph Keegin, The Bellow New Perspectives journal roundtable (forthcoming) on The End of the End of History: Daniel Zamora, Anton Jäger, Richard Sakwa, Nicholas Kiersey 

Ukraine - what should the west do next? It's 125 days since Russia's tanks rolled into Ukraine in a full scale invasion of the country. Since then the world has watched, appalled by the bloodshed, the destruction of towns and cities, the 12 million refugees. At first there was relief that the Ukrainians had beaten back the attack on the capital Kyiv. Now there is less optimism as Russia takes more territory in the east. From the start Britain and its allies have been clear: Russia must be stopped. Billions of pounds worth of weapons have been sent to help Ukraine fight back. With a unity that surprised many, western countries have imposed tough economic sanctions on Russia. But Ukraine says it needs more weapons, and more powerful ones, if it is to drive the Russians back across the border. Some observers do not think that's a realistic aim in any case. The conflict has become bogged down and our own Prime Minister says 'we need to steel ourselves for a long war.' Global prices of food and energy have risen steeply, causing hardship in the west and the prospect of famine in Africa. What should the west do now? Is it time to supply Ukraine with NATO's most powerful weapons, short of nuclear missiles? Must Russia fail and be seen to fail? Or should we, as the French President has argued, be offering Putin an ‘off-ramp'? In any case, is it practical - or moral - to behave as though the choice between war and peace can be our decision? With Paul Ingram, Orysia Lutsevych, Richard Sakwa and Edward Lucas. Producers: Jonathan Hallewell and Peter Everett Presenter: Michael Buerk

On the endgame to war in Ukraine.   Eminent Russian expert, Putin and Gorbachev biographer and ex-Sovietologist, Prof Richard Sakwa, joins us in advance of his imminent retirement from the University of Kent. We talk about the geopolitics of NATO expansion and the dynamics of the Ukraine war reaching back to 2014. How high is the risk of nuclear war now, and how might the Ukraine war play out? Readings: Whisper it, but Putin has a point in Ukraine, Richard Sakwa, The Spectator The Dual State in Russia, Richard Sakwa, Post-Soviet Affairs A Review of 'Frontline Ukraine' by Richard Sakwa, Peter Hitchens, Mail on Sunday Putin Redux: Continuity and change, Richard Sakwa, openDemocracy

As the Russia-Ukraine war opens a new phase in the Donbas, scholar Richard Sakwa on the absence of diplomacy; the Western media's veneration of Zelensky; the European Union's self-implosion over the war; and the crackdown on dissent in both Ukraine and Russia. Guest: Richard Sakwa. Professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent. His books include "Frontline Ukraine: Crisis in the Borderlands” and his latest, “Deception: Russiagate and the New Cold War." Support Pushback: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate Links: "'One less traitor': Zelensky oversees campaign of assassination, kidnapping and torture of political opposition" https://thegrayzone.com/2022/04/17/traitor-zelensky-assassination-kidnapping-arrest-political-opposition/ "Siding with Ukraine's far-right, US sabotaged Zelensky's mandate for peace" https://mate.substack.com/p/siding-with-ukraines-far-right-us?s=w "'Al Qaeda Is on Our Side': How Obama/Biden Team Empowered Terrorist Networks in Syria" https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2022/04/20/al_qaeda_is_on_our_side_how_obamabiden_officials_helped_create_a_safe_haven_for_terrorists_in_syria_827477.html

Richard Sakwa is Professor Of Russian And European Politics at the University of Kent. He has written books about Russian and eastern European communist and post-communist politics. Richard was a participant of Valdai Discussion Club, as well as an Associate Fellow of the Russia And Eurasia Programme at the Royal Institute Of International Affairs. He is also a member of the advisory boards of the Institute Of Law And Public Policy in Moscow. Richard's conversation with me covers a lot of ground, including the history of Russia and Ukraine; the complexities of Ukraine's national identity; why Putin is not interested in Ukraine; why Biden and NATO are at fault; Ukrainian government's deliberate aggression towards its own people; why Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine is understandable but a strategic blunder; the current conflict's impact on the West. If you listened to my podcast with Russell Bentley, then I strongly recommend that you listen to this one with Richard. Please support my work.

Russia has invaded Ukraine amidst an ongoing eight-year civil war between ethnic Ukrainians and Russian-speakers in the east, and following decades of tension and warnings over the prospect of NATO membership for Ukraine. Some fear we could be on the verge of a global war between nuclear superpowers. But how did we get here? Jonathan speaks with two Russia experts with decidedly different views on that question – Alexander Duleba, head of the Eastern Europe Research Program at the Slovak Foreign Policy Association, and Richard Sakwa, Professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent in the UK.

Russia has invaded Ukraine amidst an ongoing eight-year civil war between ethnic Ukrainians and Russian-speakers in the east, and following decades of tension and warnings over the prospect of NATO membership for Ukraine. Some fear we could be on the verge of a global war between nuclear superpowers. But how did we get here? Jonathan speaks with two Russia experts with decidedly different views on that question – Alexander Duleba, head of the Eastern Europe Research Program at the Slovak Foreign Policy Association, and Richard Sakwa, Professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent in the UK.

Competing interests and power politics have existed ever since nation states came into being, spurring the development of diplomacy on the one hand, and fueling arms races on the other. But every now and then, especially in European politics, diplomats and generals get sidelined by demagogues who bank on portraying adversaries as not just geopolitical competitors, but moral degenerates or civilizational inferiors. Are we back to the era of unter and uber menschen in European affairs? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Richard Sakwa, professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent.

Support Pushback at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate The US and UK are ramping up threats to Russia over Ukraine by sending more weapons, vowing more sanctions, and lodging evidence-free claims of a Russian plot to install a pro-Kremlin leader. But comments by Germany's navy chief that Russia "deserves respect" -- leading to his resignation -- underscore that not everyone is on board with Washington and London's war fever. Scholar and author Richard Sakwa discusses the latest in the Ukraine crisis. Guest: Richard Sakwa. Professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent. His books include “Frontline Ukraine: Crisis in the Borderlands” and his latest, “Deception: Russiagate and the New Cold War.”

On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to Richard Sakwa, professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent. He discusses the summit between Putin and Biden over the Ukraine crisis, the unresolved issues at the end of ‘Cold War 1' that led to ‘Cold War 2' between the US and Russia, NATO expansion towards Russia's borders contrary to promises made prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the threat of nuclear war, the lack of implementation of the Minsk Agreement, and much more. Finally, we speak to Martyn Whittock, author of ‘The End Times, Again? 2000 Years of the Use & Misuse of Biblical Prophecy'. He discusses the issue within Christian churches when people believe they are truly living in the end times, the relationship between evangelicals and US policy towards Israel and the wider Middle East, the contention between Islam and Christianity through the ages, the climate crisis and whether these are the end times, and much more.

Russia is seeking a legally binding pledge that NATO will stop expanding east, including to Ukraine. If the US refuses, is war next? Scholar and author Richard Sakwa analyzes the growing Russia-Ukraine conflict and how Russiagate fueled it. Guest: Richard Sakwa. Professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent. His books include "Frontline Ukraine: Crisis in the Borderlands" and his latest, "Deception: Russiagate and the New Cold War." Support Pushback at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate

On this edition of the Sky News Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan, we examine the fallout to the Intelligence and Security Committee report which claimed Britain "took its eye off the ball" over Russia.We are joined by our foreign affairs editor Deborah Haynes and Moscow correspondent Diana Magnay - plus Richard Sakwa, a professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent.Credits:Producer - Annie JoyceAssistant producer - Nicola EyersInterviews producer - Oli Foster

On this episode of Going Underground, we firstly speak to the co-creator of ‘Yes Minister’ and ‘Yes Prime Minister,’ Jonathan Lynn. He discusses Sir Mark Sedwill’s intention to quit as the head of the civil service and cabinet secretary, how politicians view civil servants and vice versa, the similarities between ‘Yes Minister’ and ‘Yes Prime Minister’ characters, the similarities between the character Dorothy Wainwright and Dominic Cummings, the domination of Oxbridge- and Eton-educated elites among politicians and civil servants, his shows airing in the Soviet Union, why he believes Western democracy is the best system of governance, how politicians use the civil service as an excuse for their failures, Brexit, coronavirus and more! Finally, we speak to Prof. Richard Sakwa, author of ‘The Putin Paradox.’ He discusses Vladimir Putin’s constitutional plebiscite, in which his reforms were approved by a majority of Russians. He discusses the results of the vote being impressive for Putin, dangerous elements of the reforms, McCarthyite coverage of Russia and Putin over the allegations of Russia offering bounties for American soldiers to the Taliban in Afghanistan, Trump’s victory in 2016, the journalistic bubble among Western commentators regarding Russia, the growing threat of nuclear conflict with Russia, Joe Biden threatening economic warfare if he wins, and more!

RICHARD SAKWA – THE PUTIN PARADOX...with TRE's Giles Brown

Is it high time for a rapprochement with Putin? As the transatlantic alliance flounders and Britain wallows in Brexit psychodrama, Europe can no longer afford to keep Russian relations strained. In fact, a detente is now a geopolitical necessity. Containment policies may have made sense under Obama, but with an erratic Trump in the White House, rapidly ceding influence to Putin in the Middle East, Russia is now a major global actor – and a vital European partner. The Kremlin has steered the Syrian war and co-opted Turkey and Iran in the process. Its cooperation is paramount in establishing stability in the region, and in quashing ISIS. To maintain sanctions and froideur against Russia threatens our own security — as well as crucial infrastructure projects like Nordstream 2. And with an ascendant China eyeing up its neighbour, it’s clearly in Europe’s interest to follow Macron’s lead and try to pivot Putin back towards the West.Hang on, say Putin’s critics. Have we forgotten whom we’re dealing with? This is the Russian leadership that annexed the Crimea, shot down a passenger airliner in 2014, and continues to breach the ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine. Malevolent Russian interference in the UK referendum and US elections, and support for far-right politicians in Italy and France, has destabilised the Western democratic order to the favour of divisive and isolationist populists. The Kremlin matches its concerted disinformation campaigns with a track record of callous assassinations on European soil, from Litvinenko and Skripal to the recent gunning down of a Chechen exile in Berlin. Russia has no interest in European friendship; on the contrary, it repeatedly shows itself intent on defying European rule of law and splintering European solidarity. What's more, the country’s entrenched corruption and dire human and LGBTQ rights record is fundamentally misaligned with European democratic values. Europe must stand firm, any acquiescence towards Putin will only strengthen the global drift towards authoritarianism.Speaking for the motion were Dominique Moïsi, political scientist and founding member of the Institut français des relations internationales; and Richard Sakwa, Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent. Speaking against the motion were Carole Cadwalladr, an investigative reporter for The Guardian and The Observer; and Bill Browder, financier and activist. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Event recording from 4/12/2017; introductory remarks by Dr Natasha Kuhrt. Professor Sakwa explores how the tension between Russia and the Atlantic community mirrored a fundamental realignment of the international system from the late 1980s onwards. He provides a new analysis of the end of the Cold War and the subsequent failure to create a comprehensive and inclusive peace order in Europe. The end of the Cold War did not create a sustainable peace system. Instead, for a quarter of a century a 'cold peace' reflected the tension between cooperative and competitive behaviour. None of the fundamental problems of European security were resolved, and tensions accumulated. Speaker biography: Richard Sakwa is Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent. Prof. Sakwa is an Associate Fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies (CREES) at the University of Birmingham and since September 2002 a member of Academy of Learned Societies for the Social Sciences. His latest book, 'Russia Against the Rest: The Post-Cold War Crisis of World Order' is published October 2017 with Cambridge University Press. This event was a Russian and Eurasian Security Seminar in association with the King's Russia Institute.

Richard Sakwa‘s new book, The Crisis of Russian Democracy: The Dual State, Factionalism, and the Medvedev Succession (Cambridge University Press, 2011), comes at a moment in Russian political history when uncertainty is once again in the headlines and on the lips of experts and journalists. While Sakwa's book is principally...

Richard Sakwa‘s new book, The Crisis of Russian Democracy: The Dual State, Factionalism, and the Medvedev Succession (Cambridge University Press, 2011), comes at a moment in Russian political history when uncertainty is once again in the headlines and on the lips of experts and journalists. While Sakwa’s book is principally... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Sakwa‘s new book, The Crisis of Russian Democracy: The Dual State, Factionalism, and the Medvedev Succession (Cambridge University Press, 2011), comes at a moment in Russian political history when uncertainty is once again in the headlines and on the lips of experts and journalists. While Sakwa’s book is principally about how Dmitri Medvedev became Russia’s third President, The Crisis of Russian Democracy is more importantly an analysis of the institutions and dynamics that animate Russian politics today. Rejecting the typologies of “democracy with adjectives,” as Sakwa calls it (like semi-authoritarian democracy or sovereign democracy or transitional democracy), he identifies competing institutions in Russia (“the dual state”), and studies them dynamically in order to document the interaction of various social and political forces. Sakwa’s concept of the dual state describes the permanent struggle and imbalance between Russia’s administrative regime and its constitutional state apparatus. Rooted firmly in the nitty gritty details of Kremlinology and intrigue, Sakwa’s methodology also allows him to explore the role that ideological norms play in Moscow high politics. The result is a fascinating medley of perspective — one that any scholar of Russia cannot help but find appealing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Sakwa‘s new book, The Crisis of Russian Democracy: The Dual State, Factionalism, and the Medvedev Succession (Cambridge University Press, 2011), comes at a moment in Russian political history when uncertainty is once again in the headlines and on the lips of experts and journalists. While Sakwa’s book is principally about how Dmitri Medvedev became Russia’s third President, The Crisis of Russian Democracy is more importantly an analysis of the institutions and dynamics that animate Russian politics today. Rejecting the typologies of “democracy with adjectives,” as Sakwa calls it (like semi-authoritarian democracy or sovereign democracy or transitional democracy), he identifies competing institutions in Russia (“the dual state”), and studies them dynamically in order to document the interaction of various social and political forces. Sakwa’s concept of the dual state describes the permanent struggle and imbalance between Russia’s administrative regime and its constitutional state apparatus. Rooted firmly in the nitty gritty details of Kremlinology and intrigue, Sakwa’s methodology also allows him to explore the role that ideological norms play in Moscow high politics. The result is a fascinating medley of perspective — one that any scholar of Russia cannot help but find appealing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Sakwa‘s new book, The Crisis of Russian Democracy: The Dual State, Factionalism, and the Medvedev Succession (Cambridge University Press, 2011), comes at a moment in Russian political history when uncertainty is once again in the headlines and on the lips of experts and journalists. While Sakwa’s book is principally about how Dmitri Medvedev became Russia’s third President, The Crisis of Russian Democracy is more importantly an analysis of the institutions and dynamics that animate Russian politics today. Rejecting the typologies of “democracy with adjectives,” as Sakwa calls it (like semi-authoritarian democracy or sovereign democracy or transitional democracy), he identifies competing institutions in Russia (“the dual state”), and studies them dynamically in order to document the interaction of various social and political forces. Sakwa’s concept of the dual state describes the permanent struggle and imbalance between Russia’s administrative regime and its constitutional state apparatus. Rooted firmly in the nitty gritty details of Kremlinology and intrigue, Sakwa’s methodology also allows him to explore the role that ideological norms play in Moscow high politics. The result is a fascinating medley of perspective — one that any scholar of Russia cannot help but find appealing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices