Ekaterina Schulmann and Mark Galeotti on the Latest Evolution of the Regime in Russia

The full-scale Russian war in Ukraine has been going on for more than a year, and has irrevocably changed the political landscape in Russia. All the social contracts and established practices of relationship that once existed between the state and its citizens have come under severe strain. The future of the whole country seems murky to say the least, but the political regime of Vladimir Putin has demonstrated surprising stability despite the enormous pressure of economic sanctions, international isolation and mass emigration. Since the regime’s ability to survive directly impacts its ability to act militarily (and vice versa), rational expertise on the internal political dynamics has rarely been so valuable. Pushkin House is hosting a conversation between two leading political scientists, Professor Ekaterina Schulmann and Professor Mark Galeotti, who exchange their views on how the Russian political regime has evolved over the last fifteen months and how various social groups are contributing and reacting to it. Which sections of the Russian political machine are most effective? Where is the strain of war felt the most, and which parts of the regime are most likely to give way? Who are the beneficiaries of the war within the power system, and in society at large? Do popular attitudes matter anymore and to which tendencies should we be paying attention? Filming: Dmitrii Fedorenko, Georgii Kashcheev, Andrei Murzeev Editing: Dmitrii Fedorenko