Join PONARS Eurasia's "New Speakers on Russia" series for a lecture exploring the resilience of Putin's regime, even under economic duress. Please register here.

Speaker:

David Szakonyi, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the George Washington University

Dire predictions of Russia's economy collapsing under the weight of falling oil prices and sanctions have not yet come true. Few if any leading businesspeople have broken rank with Putin's regime. What explains the resilience of Russia's authoritarian model under such palpable economic and political pressures? This talk will draw on the author's recent research on nepotism, nationalization, de-offshorization, and conflicts of interest to examine the ties that bind powerful figures from the political and business realms in Russia. Recent actions taken by the Russian government have cultivated a strong dependence of elites on the regime. But how capable are the Russian authorities at preventing high-level defections and ensuring loyalty, while also addressing mounting accusations of corruption from below?