The Russian Federation is an example of a large authoritarian state whose military is subordinate to its civil government. But since the onset of the War in Ukraine, tensions have been growing between civilian and military leaders.

In this episode, Julian Waller joins John to discuss the current state of civil-military relations in Russia’s government and how the Wagner Group rebellion fits into this puzzle.

Biography

Julian G. Waller is a Research Analyst with CNA’s Russia Studies Program. He is an expert in the politics of authoritarian regimes in post-Soviet Eurasia and Europe, focusing on Russian and Ukrainian domestic political institutions and their relation to political-military issues.

Further Reading

CNA: Russian Military Logistics in the Ukraine War