Putin’s War and Russia’s War: Masses, Elites, and Leaders in Russian Foreign Policy

Session Submission Type: Panel

Brief Description

The two most momentous foreign policy decisions of Vladimir Putin’s 25-year rule both involved the invasion of Ukraine, first in 2014 and then in 2022. This interdisciplinary panel brings together a sociologist and two political scientists to examine Russian foreign policy both from the top down and bottom up. The sociological paper draws upon joint work between the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Levada Center to discuss Russian popular foreign policy attitudes. The political science papers are more elite centric, focusing on the drivers of elite decision-making. The papers discuss the role of key actors in the policy process and the beliefs of top officials, including Putin and the siloviki, often considered the most influential group around Putin.

Sub Unit

• International Relations, Security Studies, Foreign Policy

Chair

• Sharon Werning Rivera, Hamilton College

Papers

• Identity, Empire, and Security: The Multi-faceted and Mutually Reinforcing Origins of Putin’s War on Ukraine - David W. Rivera, Hamilton College

• How Russians View Russia’s Place in the World - Lama El Baz, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

• The Siloviki, Russian Foreign Policy, and Putin’s War - Brian D. Taylor, Syracuse U

Discussant

• Oxana Shevel, Tufts U