Russian Roulette
Center for Strategic and International Studies
All episodes
Best episodes
Top 10 Russian Roulette Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Russian Roulette episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Russian Roulette for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Russian Roulette episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
The Recent Anti-Corruption Purge and New Leadership at the Russian Ministry of Defense with Mikhail Zygar and Christopher Davis
Russian Roulette
05/31/24 • 40 min
Maria sat down with Russian independent journalist and author Mikhail Zygar, and University of Oxford professor Christopher Davis, to discuss the recent string of anti-corruption charges at the Russian Ministry of Defense, and the replacement of Sergei Shoigu with Andrei Belousov at the ministry’s head. What does all this mean for the current composition of the Russian elite, and what impact will these changes have on the Russian war effort in Ukraine?
Please check out Mikhail Zygar's Substack, "The Last Pioneer."
12/06/24 • 36 min
Max and Maria speak with Dara Massicot, one of the leading experts on the Russian military and the war in Ukraine. Dara gives updates on the efforts of both sides to make gains on the battlefield, along with the current risks of escalation as we head into 2025. This conversation was recorded on December 3, 2024.
04/04/24 • 41 min
Max and Maria sat down with Paul Schwartz and Sam Bendett to discuss the different technological and tactical battlefield innovations taking place in Ukraine today, and what they mean for military analysts studying the war.
Disclaimer: Paul and Sam's views as expressed in this episode are their own, and do not necessarily represent the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA).
Of The Cost of Engineering Victory: Russia's September Elections and Impact of Team Navalny - Russian Roulette Episode 107
Russian Roulette
10/08/20 • 40 min
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather and Cyrus Newlin, associate fellow with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia program, sit down with Masha Lipman, Senior Associate at the Institute of European, Eurasian and Russian Studies at George Washington University, Ben Noble, Assistant Professor in Russian Politics at the University College in London and Senior Research Fellow at the Higher School of Economics, Moscow, to discuss the outcome of the September 13 elections in Russia and what they portend for next year’s high stakes Duma election.
This episode assesses the success of Alexey Navalny’s “Smart Voting” strategy and what his poisoning meant to opposition forces in Russia. Experts also discuss the “menu of manipulation” deployed by the Kremlin during the election for nearly 9,000 municipal or regional seats and 18 governors and describe different levels of political competition across Russia. Although Putin’s popularity is once again on the rise, the dramatic change of the Kremlin’s policy toward Navalny speaks to its concern about securing victory for the United Russia Party in the future. Finally, they discussed the attitudes of the youth in Russia towards politics and how they will shape Russia’s future.
You can find Ben’s bio here: https://www.ben-noble.com/, and follow him on Twitter: @Ben_H_Noble
Cyrus’s: https://www.csis.org/people/cyrus-newlin
We encourage you to listen to Maria Lipman’s insightful conversations on the PONARS Eurasia podcast on Russia and Eurasia: https://blubrry.com/ponars/
Stay safe and healthy.
Of Russia’s Arctic Council Chairmanship and Sino-Russian Collaboration in the Arctic - Russian Roulette Episode 113
Russian Roulette
07/09/21 • 43 min
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather sits down with Andrei Zagorski, Head of Department for Disarmament and Conflict Resolution Studies at the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), and Elizabeth Buchanan, Lecturer of Strategic Studies with Deakin University for the Defense and Strategic Studies Course at the Australian War College.
They discuss Russia’s plans for its Chairmanship of the Arctic Council and its broader economic and security policy in the Arctic. They also explore China’s Arctic strategy since the unveiling of its Arctic white paper and shifts in its approach since becoming a permanent observer to the Council in 2013. Lastly, they do some myth-busting regarding the strategic conundrum presented by Sino-Russian cooperation in the Arctic.
If you are interested in learning more about Russia and NATO’s military activities in the region, check out our Arctic Military Activity tracker and read our primers on this important topic: The Ice Curtain: Russia’s Arctic Military Presence and America's Arctic Moment: Great Power Competition in the Arctic to 2050. But importantly, the Arctic region may be one of the few areas where the U.S and Russia can achieve some modest bilateral success.
You can find Dr. Zagorski’s bio here and Dr. Buchanan’s bio here. You can also follow her on Twitter: @BuchananLiz
Stay safe and healthy.
Of the State and Future of Russian Journalism and Society – Russian Roulette Episode 118
Russian Roulette
12/21/21 • 34 min
In this final episode of the year, Heather sits down Masha Gessen, a Russian-American journalist, author, translator and activist, and staff writer for The New Yorker. They discuss Masha’s piece “Can Russia’s Press Ever Be Free?” as well as the current state and future of journalism, society, and freedom of expression in Russia. Masha’s latest article and other pieces can be found here: www.newyorker.com/contributors/masha-gessen
If you are interested in all things NATO, listen to Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program’s new podcast “NATO’s Road to Madrid” here: www.csis.org/podcasts/natos-road-madrid
Although we gladly bid farewell to all the challenges that 2021 presented, we sadly note that this is the final episode of Russian Roulette featuring host Heather Conley. Beginning in January 2022, Heather will be the new president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF). Don’t worry - we will have guest hosts pick up the mantle in 2022 for another great Russian Roulette series. Until then, we send heartfelt thanks to our podcast guests and listeners for making this such an exciting year of interesting and important conversations. With best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a healthy new year! С наступающим 2022 годом!
Of The Dawn of a New Era in Arms Control?: Extending the New Start Treaty - Russian Roulette Episode 109
Russian Roulette
01/28/21 • 33 min
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather sits down Rebecca Hersman, Director of the Project on Nuclear Issues (or PONI), and Senior Adviser, International Security Program at CSIS, and Dmitry Stefanovich, Research Fellow at the Center for International Security, Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO RAS) in Moscow.
They discuss the reasons why the Biden and Putin administrations are extending the last remaining U.S.-Russian arms control agreement, the New START treaty; the treaty’s importance; and the prospects for addressing new weapon systems and capabilities in a future agreement. The New START Treaty is also discussed as a pillar of a future, global and multilateral arms control and nuclear nonproliferation negotiating framework.
You can find Rebecca’s bio here: https://www.csis.org/people/rebecca-hersman and follow her on Twitter: @rebeccahersman
Dmitry’s bio: https://www.imemo.ru/en/about/persons/department/full?id=2228 and Twitter handle: @KomissarWhipla
Stay safe and healthy.
Of Russia’s Climate Gamble and the Northern Sea Route – Russian Roulette Episode 116
Russian Roulette
10/08/21 • 40 min
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather provides a brief overview of a new CSIS report, “Russia’s Climate Gamble: The Pursuit and Contradictions of its Arctic Ambitions,” which examines the implications of climate impacts for Russia’s economy, internal political dynamics, and security posture. Heather then sits down with Felix H. Tschudi, the Chairman and owner of the Tschudi Group, a Norwegian-based global shipping and logistics company with a long history in the Arctic. They discuss Russia’s ambitious plans for transforming the Northern Sea Route (NSR) into a major global shipping corridor, the impact of climate change and environmental activism on the NSR’s viability, and the prospects of China’s Transpolar route.
Check out the Center for High North Logistics to track developments in the High North and along the Northern Sea Route as well as the Marines Exchange of Alaska to track shipping traffic and emerging maritime issues in the Bering Sea as well as Alaska. For further information on the Bering Strait as a maritime passage, check out this CSIS report “Maritime Futures: The Arctic and the Bering Strait Region.”
To learn more about how climate change will reshape Russian politics, economics, and society, explore the recent work by Russian voices on climate change, civil society, and center-region dynamics here. To learn more about military and security issues related to the Arctic, follow CSIS’s Arctic Military Activity tracker for latest Russia and NATO’s military activities in the region.
Finally, subscribe to Russian Roulette, so you do not miss an episode.
Thanks for listening!
Of The End of a Very Long Year for U.S.-Russian Relations - Russian Roulette Episode 108
Russian Roulette
12/30/20 • 37 min
In this last Russian Roulette episode of the year, Heather sits down with Ambassador John J. Sullivan, the U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation and former Deputy Secretary of State. They discuss the highlights (the power of hockey diplomacy) and low points (the imprisonment of Paul Whelan) of his tenure as Ambassador, why there wasn’t a New START extension this year, as well as the impact of the changes to the Russian constitution, the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, and the foreign agent law on American interests. Finally, they also discuss the internal political dynamics in Russia in the lead up to next year’s Duma elections.
Ambassador Sullivan’s bio can be found here: https://ru.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/
We gladly say farewell to 2020 and wish our listeners healthy and happy holidays. We have many exciting projects and conversations planned for 2021, so please keep an eye out for our announcements by subscribing to our mailing lists and following us on @CSISRussia and @CSISEurope.
Thank you again for listening. Happy New Year! С наступающим 2021 годом!
10/17/24 • 42 min
Max and Maria with Ben Cahill and Eddie Fishman about the current state of Russia's energy industry, and the prospects for the country's lucrative hydrocarbon exports. They also assessed the impacts of Western sanctions on the industry to date and ways those sanctions could potentially be tightened going forward. This conversation was recorded on October 7, 2024.
Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare by Edward Fishman is available for pre-order now (Penguin Random House).
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does Russian Roulette have?
Russian Roulette currently has 117 episodes available.
What topics does Russian Roulette cover?
The podcast is about News, Podcasts and Politics.
What is the most popular episode on Russian Roulette?
The episode title 'Maria Reports Back After a Trip to Ukraine' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Russian Roulette?
The average episode length on Russian Roulette is 43 minutes.
How often are episodes of Russian Roulette released?
Episodes of Russian Roulette are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of Russian Roulette?
The first episode of Russian Roulette was released on Feb 27, 2018.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ