Maria Snegovaya

Senior Fellow, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program
Maria Snegovaya

Maria Snegovaya is a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and a postdoctoral fellow in Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service. She studies Russia’s domestic and foreign policy, as well as democratic backsliding in post-communist Europe and the tactics used by Russian actors and proxies who exploit these dynamics in the region. Her analysis has been published in multiple policy and peer-reviewed journals. Her research and commentary have appeared in a number of publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The Economist, and Foreign Policy. Throughout her career she has collaborated with multiple U.S. research centers and think tanks such as Center for a New American Security and Center for European Policy Analysis. Snegovaya holds a PhD in political science from Columbia University.

 

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When Left Moves Right

When Left Moves Right

Over the past two decades, postcommunist countries have undergone a striking shift in the electoral fortunes of their political parties: once-dominant center-left parties suffered dramatic defeats and faded from the political stage, while right-wing populist parties surged in popularity and seized power. This pattern closely paralleled developments in Western Europe and raises a critical question: were these dynamics connected? Maria Snegovaya’s latest book argues that they were, with the key link being the pro-market rebranding of the ex-communist left, fueling the rise of right-wing populism in countries where the left had embraced market reforms.

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Executive Education

Global Foresight: Geopolitical Risk and Scenario Planning

Global Foresight: Geopolitical Risk and Scenario Planning is Washington’s premier executive certificate program for mid-to senior-level professionals responsible for helping their organizations navigate geopolitical uncertainty and prepare resilient long-term strategies.

Course Date: October 26, 2026
Registration Closes: October 16, 2026
The Impossible State

How Should the United States Counter the CRINK Axis?

Dr. Victor Cha, Igor Khrestin, Joseph Kim, and Dr. Maria Snegovaya join Will Todman to assess CRINK’s vulnerabilities and U.S. policy options on democracy, rights, and security.

Podcast Episode by Will Todman, Victor Cha, and Maria Snegovaya — June 12, 2026

The Impossible State Podcast
Russian Roulette

Dr. Nina Khrushcheva: History, Evolution, and a View from Inside Russia

Max and Maria talk with Dr. Nina Khrushcheva about her new book on Nikita Khrushchev and her rare firsthand insights from traveling to Russia, offering a unique view of its shifting politics and culture.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Nina Khrushcheva — June 11, 2026

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State of Play

Is Ukraine Turning the Tide?

Will speaks with Max Bergmann and Maria Snegovaya about their recent trip to Kyiv and if the shifting balance of power means the war may finally end soon.

Podcast Episode by Will Todman, Max Bergmann, and Maria Snegovaya — June 4, 2026

Photo: iLab/CSIS
Russian Roulette

Shifting Tides in Ukraine - Lawrence Freedman on the Future of the War

Max and Maria welcome Sir Lawrence Freedman, historian, author, and Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College London, to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine, how he sees the conflict evolving, and what to expect in the critical months ahead

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Lawrence Freedman — May 29, 2026

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Russian Roulette

War, Inflation, and Putin's Paranoia: has Russian Public Opinion Begun to Shift?

Max and Maria welcome back Dr. Sam Greene, professor of Russian Politics at King's College London, to discuss the state of Russian public opinion today, and whether domestic conditions have begun change given the state of the economy, war, and ⁠reports⁠ of increasing paranoia in the Kremlin. 

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Dr. Sam Greene — May 14, 2026

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Russian Roulette

The Ukrainian Defense Industry and Europe’s Untapped Arsenal

Max and Maria welcome back Elina Ribakova to discuss her latest piece in Foreign Affairs, exploring the Ukrainian defense industry and its potential capacity to help Europe secure its own defense. 

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Elina Ribakova  — April 30, 2026

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