U.S.-Russian Relations and the Democracy and Rule of Law Deficit
Sarah Mendelson discusses authoritarian trends in Russia and their implications for U.S. Russia policy, calling for more U.S. engagement with Russians beyond the Kremlin in this report of the Century Foundation. June, 2009.
The End of the Post-Soviet Era
Sarah Mendelson discusses what the Russian war in Georgia signifies in this op-ed in the Moscow Times. August 19, 2008.
Critical Questions: Transition in Russia?
Sarah Mendelson examines U.S. foreign policy towards Russia in light of Russia’s new Medvedev presidency in this "CSIS Critical Questions." May 6, 2008.
A New Approach to a New Russia
Sarah Mendelson discusses the weakening of U.S. soft power and the concern that, in the future, “Russia and China will ‘set the table’ on international human rights issues,” in this memo for the CSIS Commission on Smart Power. October 2007.
Young Russia's Enemy No. 1
Sarah Mendelson and Ted Gerber (University of Wisconsin-Madison) discuss young Russians’ perceptions of the West and Russia’s Soviet legacy in this article in the Washington Post. August 3, 2007.
Russia Today: In Transition or Intransigent?
Sarah Mendelson’s testimony before the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe addresses the decline of U.S. soft power and the ability of other countries—such as Russia—to set the agenda on human rights. May 24, 2007.
Human Rights and the Terror Fight
Sarah Mendelson discusses Euro-Atlantic ambivalence towards human rights in Russia and, increasingly, toward its own set of violations in this piece for washingtonpost.com. May 11, 2006.
Time to Get off the Putin Path
Sarah Mendelson argues for an end to Euro-Atlantic silence in the face of Putin’s growing authoritarianism in this article for Apsenia 28, the Aspen Institute’s Italian journal of international affairs. March 2005.
Listen to the Russians
Sarah Mendelson, Ted Gerber, and Grigory Shvedov (Memorial) argue for the use of survey data in guiding foreign assistance to Russia in this op-ed in the Washington Post. August 24, 2004.
Up For Grabs: Russia’s Political Trajectory and Stalin’s Legacy
Based on survey data, Sarah Mendelson and Ted Gerber argue that Russia’s political trajectory remains an issue of national security in this PONARS Policy Memo (number 296). November 2003.
Domestic Politics and America's Russia Policy
Sarah Mendelson examines the forces that shape how U.S. policy toward Russia is perceived and managed through four case studies: (1) the U.S. response to Russia’s wars in Chechnya, (2) U.S. support for development of democratic institutions in Russia, (3) U.S. support for the safe dismantlement and storage of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Russia, and (4) the U.S. response to Russia’s relations with Iran and Iraq.
This is a report of the Century Foundation and The Stanley Foundation, prepared by Sarah Mendelson. October 1, 2002.
Young, Educated, Urban—and Anti-American: Recent Survey Data from Russia
Sarah Mendelson and Ted Gerber use survey data to examine the reality of anti-American sentiments in Russia in this PONARS Policy Memo (number 267). October 2002.
Russians’ Rights Imperiled: Has Anybody Noticed?
Sarah Mendelson uses evidence from Russia to criticize international relations literature on the power of human rights in International Security, Vol. 26, No. 4. Spring 2002.
Toward a U.S. Policy on Chechnya
Sarah Mendelson and Scott Lindsay argue for a new policy toward Chechnya in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in this PONARS Policy Memo (number 204). November 2001.