Feb 28, 2022 | Politics & Society
A land war has returned to Europe. This week, Russia attacked Ukraine. What are the causes of the conflict? What are the motivations of the actors? Could this war have been avoided? Doug Becker speaks with Anna Ohanyan, Robert English, and Serhiy Kudelia. Anna Ohanyan...
Feb 24, 2022 | Politics & Society
By Steve Hoadley The recognition by President Putin of the Donetsk and Luhansk āPeoples Republicsā on 21 February is his latest initiative to expand Russiaās influence. Will he prevail? Will he pause or push further? History is rich with examples of āirredentismā,...
Feb 23, 2022 | Politics & Society
By Greg Yudin A view from Russia: no sanctions will stop Moscow, and its actions will drive more countries into NATO’s arms. In the near future, a big war will begin ā a war that we have not seen in the lifetime of my generation, and perhaps the previous...
Feb 1, 2022 | Politics & Society
Russia’s relationship with Ukraine is complicated. Ukrainian independence coming out of the collapse of the Soviet Union ended a 350-year history of Ukraine as a part of the Russian Empire, and then the Soviet Union. From that period forward, the two nations...
Jan 25, 2022 | Politics & Society
By Greg Yudin Putinās threats are a desperate defence of Russiaās status quo. I’m often asked the following question about Ukraine: āWhy is Putin doing this? Why does he want to attack Ukraine? Heās doing OK, what is he unhappy with?ā I always give the same...
Jan 25, 2021 | Politics & Society
By Logan Carmichael As all eyes were glued to the storming of the American Capitol and the second impeachment of Donald Trump, the small Baltic nation of Estonia was experiencing its own reckoning with the far-right. As all eyes were glued to the storming of the...
Sep 8, 2020 | Politics & Society
By Ben Goldson With demonstrations ongoing despite government repression, longtime Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko is faced with a rare challenge to his leadership. With demonstrations ongoing despite government repression, longtime Belarussian President...
Aug 31, 2020 | Politics & Society
On August 9, 2020, Belarussian voters went to the polls in a presidential election. Long-time president Alexander Lukashenko who has governed the nation since 1994 and who is often called Europeās last dictator claimed victory. Lukashenko announced he had won the...
Jul 21, 2020 | Politics & Society
By Richey Wyver While the devastating truth of Swedenās COVID death rates has invoked an increase in criticism, international reporting continues to swing on a pendulum between themes of, āHas Sweden got it all wrong?ā and āWas Sweden right all along?ā. The Swedish...
Jan 22, 2020 | Politics & Society
MajorĀ politicalĀ changeĀ isĀ happeningĀ in Russia right now as President VladimirĀ PutinĀ announced significant constitutionalĀ changesĀ in his annual address to theĀ nation.Ā The amendments Putin put forward included term limits for the president, more authority for parliament...