In Moscow's Shadows 190: Sanctions, Spies, and Suspect Legitimacy
Mar 9, 2025
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The podcast explores the implications of potential sanctions against Russia and their unpredictable impact on international diplomacy. It highlights the evolution of Russian intelligence tactics and delves into the political legitimacy of Putin's regime, informed by recent literature. Discussions also cover grassroots activism and civic engagement, challenging common stereotypes about Russians. The complexities of legitimacy in governance and societal values in modern Russia reveal how public acceptance can persist, even amid challenges.
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Quick takeaways
Trump's ambiguous stance on sanctions highlights the complexity of U.S.-Russia relations and raises questions about future policy directions.
The rise of grassroots movements in Russia signals a potential shift in societal engagement, challenging state narratives through everyday political acts.
Deep dives
Trump's Sanctions on Russia: Uncertainty and Hypocrisy
Recent commentary has highlighted Donald Trump's contradictory stance on imposing further sanctions on Russia, as he simultaneously hints at considering banking sanctions while expressing sympathy for Putin's actions in Ukraine. This ambiguity raises questions about Trump's true intentions and potential shifts in U.S. policy regarding sanctions and negotiations. While Trump suggests sanctions will be contingent on a ceasefire, experts note that these tariffs may be ineffectual given the limited trade exchange between the U.S. and Russia. Observers from Moscow seem largely unconcerned, maintaining that the approach towards Trump reflects a pragmatic understanding of shifting interests rather than a genuine alliance.
Impact of Intelligence Sharing Suspension
The pause in U.S. arms transfers and intelligence sharing with Ukraine raises concerns about the future capacity of Ukrainian forces to sustain their defense and conduct effective operations against Russian advances. The suspension complicates cooperation with allies, particularly in intelligence-sharing arrangements that rely heavily on American data, potentially weakening overall collaboration. Analysts emphasize that, although Ukraine has its own intelligence structures, the lack of U.S. support on intelligence can hinder operations significantly, and could lead to a prolonged degradation of military capabilities. This situation underlines the strategic implications of U.S. policy decisions for the battlefield dynamics in Ukraine.
Legitimacy in Putin's Russia: The Role of Traditional Values
The concept of legitimacy in Russia has increasingly focused on traditional values that the Putin regime uses to bolster its governance alongside coercive measures. Recent scholarly works emphasize how the Russian government presents a conservative values agenda that contrasts sharply with the perceived 'degeneracy' of the West, aiming to reconnect with a mythologized past. The rise of values entrepreneurs and local actors seeking to legitimize the regime's actions reflects a complex interplay where state narratives meet grassroots sentiment. However, there is an emerging recognition that the legitimacy derived from these values could be threatened by mounting social pressures, contrasting both with systemic governance and individual aspirations.
Everyday Politics: An Alternative Perspective
Emerging discourse on everyday politics emphasizes the potential for socio-political change occurring outside the confines of official state narratives and actions, suggesting a more nuanced understanding of Russian society. Studies show that individuals often engage in political acts in their daily lives, driven by motivations that can both align with and diverge from state interests, revealing a complex layer of social agency. This perspective highlights the evolution of civic actions, such as grassroots environmental movements, which subtly challenge the governmental status quo without direct confrontation. As people navigate their lives amid restrictive political circumstances, these acts of defiance signal a shifting landscape of societal engagement and aspirations.
Reflecting the chaotic and fast-moving nature of the times, another podcast of two parts. In the first, looking at various issues of the week, from Trump's apparent threat to increase sanctions on Russia to a spy case in the UK.
In the second half, I look at two recent books, Political Legitimacy and Traditional Values in Putin's Russia, edited by Helge Blakkisrud & Pål Kolstø (Edinburgh UP) and Jeremy Morris’s Everyday Politics in Russia. From Resentment to Resistance, (Bloomsbury) and use them to spin off a discussion about legitimacy in modern Russia.
The piece ‘Recycling to resist,’ I mentioned by Alexandrina Vanke, is in the Sociological Reviewhere.
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