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COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

The Power Vertical

The Power Vertical is a blog and podcast for Russia wonks and Kremlin watchers by Brian Whitmore. It covers emerging and developing trends in Russian politics, shining a spotlight on the high-stakes power struggles, machinations, and clashing interests that shape Kremlin policy today.

Host and Eurasia Center Senior Fellow Brian Whitmore invites guest experts to deliver their insights and analysis in this weekly podcast. The Atlantic Council and the Charles T. McDowell Center for Global Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington co-sponsor this production.

The Russia Tomorrow series

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The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.

Content

UkraineAlert

Sep 29, 2015

Will Assad Rescue Putin from the Ukrainian Quagmire?

By Aaron Korewa

For fifteen years, Gleb Pavlovsky worked as an adviser to Russian Presidents Boris Yeltsin, Vladimir Putin, and the one-term Dmitry Medvedev. He was one of the chief architects behind the “power vertical” concept— the need for a strong leader in order to create stability. Freedom and democracy were supposed to “come later.” Unfortunately for Pavlovsky, […]

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Sep 29, 2015

Slavin: Obama and Putin Struggle to Find a Way Forward on Syria

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Voice of America on disagreements between Obama and Putin on the civil war in Syria:

Russia Syria

In the News

Sep 29, 2015

Polyakova on Russia’s Involvement in Syria

By Alina Polyakova

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Associate Director Alina Polyakova joins Feature Story News to discuss Russia’s involvement in Syria and the meeting between President Obama and President Putin at the United Nations General Assembly: Watch the full interview here.

Russia Syria

In the News

Sep 29, 2015

Cohen on Obama and Putin’s Meeting

By Ariel Cohen

Global Energy Center and Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen writes for Voice of America Russian on the meeting between President Obama and President Putin in New York: Read the full article here.

Russia
NATO Exercise Noble Jump, June 18, 2015

NATOSource

Sep 29, 2015

Five Recommendations for Strengthening NATO’s Response to Russian Aggression

By Radek Sikorski And Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Wall Street Journal

Russia’s actions in Ukraine, as well as its military build-up and threatening words and behavior in the Baltic Sea region, show that we have not yet fully communicated to the Kremlin that it should back off.

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Sep 29, 2015

Benitez on the Suwalki Gap

By Jorge Benitez

Foreign Policy quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow and NATOSource Director Jorge Benitez on the militarization of the area of land between Poland and Lithuania:

Poland Russia

In the News

Sep 29, 2015

Hof on Russia in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

The New York Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the help of Russia in fighting the Islamic State in Syria:

Russia Syria

In the News

Sep 29, 2015

Hof on Obama and Putin in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

POLITICO quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the potential for cooperation between the United States and Russia in Syria: 

Russia Syria

UkraineAlert

Sep 29, 2015

Ukraine’s Leaders Must Engage Disillusioned Citizens Now

By Joanna Rohozinska

In many respects, Ukraine is unrecognizable from the place it was a mere two years ago. Civic engagement has clearly increased, as seen by the remarkable mobilization of volunteers, flourishing of local civic groups, and generous donations for a variety of causes. A sense of vitality and energy pervades the country—unlike a few years ago, […]

Russia Ukraine

SyriaSource

Sep 28, 2015

Assessing Putin’s “Fight Them There Not Here” Strategy in Syria

By Mark N. Katz

The recent increase in Russian military involvement in Syria is widely seen as an expansion of Moscow’s influence in the Middle East. While offensive ambitions may well be present, defensive motives also appear to have played a role in Putin’s decision-making.

Russia Syria

Experts

Events