I first knew that I wanted to write a book about Russian uses of history when I was living in
Moscow in 2014. That it has taken so long to get to that point is testament to quite how much …

A few public actions prepared the way for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the purpose of
which was to define a special military operation as forced, necessary and inevitable. The …

Putin's fourth term as president (2018–2024) has involved new challenges for Russia's
hybrid regime. COVID-19 hit the Kremlin at a sensitive time, when the old institutional forces …

This article analyses the content and structure of the Kremlin's political discourse since the
start of Vladimir Putin's presidency in 2000 and in the context of the conflicts in Georgia and …

The article dwells upon the use of the symbol of the “Motherland” in the legitimation and
delegitimation of power. The Motherland symbolizes the matters that are essential for …

This book explores the issue of selective law enforcement, arguing that the manipulation of
the legal system by powerful insiders is a distinctive feature of Putinism, reflecting both its …

Using the Russian president's major public addresses as the main source, Bo Petersson
analyzes the legitimization strategies employed during Vladimir Putin's third and fourth terms …

Empirical studies in democracies have revealed some degree of causal relationship
between public opinion and foreign policy. A look at the relationship between the evolution …

The departure of a charismatic leader in an authoritarian system poses substantial risks for
regime durability. Designated succession guarantees a smooth transfer of power and …

Recently there has been a renewed focus on analyzing post-communist memory, including
the revitalization of debate on contemporary public perceptions of Josef Stalin. How do …