Russia

Since the former Soviet Union began tentative steps toward an open society and market economy in the 1990s, the country has continued shifting sharply against signs of reform under Vladimir Putin’s leadership. What started as a fledgling democracy gradually gave way to an authoritarian system marked by a corrupt oligarchy. CSIS programs research and analyze all aspects of Russia’s domestic politics and foreign policy, from its economic health in a restricted wartime economy to its increasingly revisionist and assertive foreign policy, which continually challenges the post–Cold War international order through military, economic, and political means.

Photo: Lazy_Bear/Adobe Stock

Photo: Lazy_Bear/Adobe Stock

Resilience Through Linkage: Russia, Iran, and Aspirations for North–South Trade

The study identifies a clear Russian and Iranian commitment to creating a north–south trade route that could bypass Western sanctions. The report evaluates the route’s potential to reshape the U.S.-dominated global trade system in the coming decades.

Report by Maria Snegovaya, Tina Dolbaia, and Nicholas Fenton — April 16, 2026

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Max Bergmann

Max Bergmann

Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Stuart Center
Seth G. Jones

Seth G. Jones

President, Defense and Security Department; Harold Brown Chair

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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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The Trade Guys

U.S.-Canada Trade Tensions, New PRC Extraterritorial Rules, and Russia Sanctions Approaches

Bill and Scott discuss the state of U.S.-Canada trade relations in the context of USMCA review, new Chinese regulations aimed at preventing foreign companies from shifting their supply chains out of the country, and EU and U.S. approaches to sanctioning Russia.

Podcast Episode by Alex Kisling, Scott Miller, and William Alan Reinsch — May 4, 2026

CSIS The Trade Guys
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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Resilience Through Linkage: Russia, Iran, and Aspirations for North–South Trade

The study identifies a clear Russian and Iranian commitment to creating a north–south trade route that could bypass Western sanctions. The report evaluates the route’s potential to reshape the U.S.-dominated global trade system in the coming decades.

Report by Maria Snegovaya, Tina Dolbaia, and Nicholas Fenton — April 16, 2026

Russian Roulette

The History of Russian Feminism with Julia Ioffe

Max and Maria are joined by journalist and author Julia Ioffe to discuss her recent book, Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Julia Ioffe — April 16, 2026

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Russian Roulette

How the Iran War and the Price of Oil Impact the Kremlin's Calculus

Max and Maria are joined by Hanna Notte and Janis Kluge for a deep dive on how the Iran war and turmoil in global energy markets continue to impact Russian foreign policy.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, Hanna Notte, and Janis Kluge — April 2, 2026

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Russian Roulette

BONUS EPISODE: What the Iran War Means for Russia

Max sat down with Michael Kimmage for a rapid fire session running over the potential implications of the ongoing war in the Middle East for Russian foreign policy.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann and Michael Kimmage — March 20, 2026

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