In Moscow's Shadows

Mark Galeotti
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Dec 4, 2022 • 55min

In Moscow's Shadows 85: War and Peace (and how both are changing)

What broader lessons about the changing nature of war, peace and power can we draw from the Russo-Ukrainian conflict? A more conceptual and rambling episode than usual...The Meduza article on FSO polling I mentioned is here.You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows, and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials right here. Support the show
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Nov 20, 2022 • 60min

In Moscow's Shadows 84: Putin the History (Abuse) Man

Exploring the impact of history on present-day Russia, including the complexities of Russian identity. Delving into how leaders like Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, and Putin have shaped Russia's national identity. Discussing the control and manipulation of history in Russia, including the use of history and nationalism in the conflict with Ukraine. Criticizing Putin's understanding of Russia and discussing the economic and political consequences of the war. Examining the financial and economic impact of the war on Russia and Ukraine. Exploring the credibility of investing in Russia under the current regime and the brain drain of skilled individuals leaving the country. Discussing the impact of the shrinking economy on relations between regions and ethnicities in Russia.
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4 snips
Nov 13, 2022 • 54min

In Moscow's Shadows 83: Putin's decision-making; and Russian organised crime after the invasion

A fresh batch of Patrons' questions, clustered around Putin, his influences (no, Ivan Ilyin is not his guru) and decision-making; and then in the second half, how are the effects of invasion and sanctions reshaping Russian organised crime?You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows, and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials right here. Support the show
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Nov 6, 2022 • 53min

In Moscow's Shadows 82: What Prigozhin Wants, What Putin Believes, and Why Russia Might Create its own Bureau 39

In the first part of the podcast, I address the first batch of questions put to me by my Patrons, including Prigozhin's authority and whether Putin really believes some of the increasingly bizarre nonsense that is being spouted by his officials. In the second part, I explore whether Russia might be tempted to follow North Korea in establishing a 'ministry of organised crime.'Oh, and do buy my new book Putin's Wars!The ECFR Crimintern report I mention (from 2017) is here. You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows, and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials right here. Support the show
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Oct 30, 2022 • 40min

In Moscow's Shadows 81: A Sampling of the Latest News; and the Russo-Chinese Intelligence Relationship

In the first segment, I touch on some of the latest news stories: Ukraine's drone attack on Sevastopol and the ending of the grain deal; will Russian withdraw from Kherson; and what Russians think. In the second half, I pivot to exploring the complex intelligence relationship between Russia and China and why, whatever the talk of a 'friendship without limits,' at least in the secret realm they are not frenemies maybe but frivals...The recording of the talk at George Washington's Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies I mentioned is here.You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows, and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials right here. Support the show
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Oct 22, 2022 • 60min

In Moscow's Shadows 80: Annexations, Mobilisations, Martial Law and More

I'm back after a month of travels, and what a month it's been. In this longer-than-usual catch-up episode, I look at its main developments, including annexations, mobilisation, martial law and political machinations. And how Sergei Kirienko admitted that this was not a popular war...You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows, and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials right here. Support the show
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Sep 16, 2022 • 44min

In Moscow's Shadows 79: Putin's Dilemmas, on and off the battlefield

Military analysts often talk about the way forces seek to 'impose dilemmas' in their enemy on the battlefield. The extraordinary Ukrainian advance from Kharkiv is imposing a series of dilemmas both military and, more importantly, political on Putin. And, faced with a choice of difficult options, none of which look especially palatable, he is doing what he usually does: dodge the hard decisions, dig in and hope things work out.From tactical nukes and mobilisation to why bother with increasingly transparently rigged elections, a run through the dilemmas and possible responses.Also, do note that my podcasting in the next month may be pretty limited, but patrons will get regular text updates.You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows, and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials right here. Support the show
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Sep 5, 2022 • 36min

In Moscow's Shadows 78: Organised Labour in a Neoliberal and Authoritarian Russia

It's Labo(u)r Day here in DC, so I look at the - pretty poor - state of organised labour in Russia, but also the hints that coming economic pressures could help encourage some solidarity and lateral connections, key to effective civil society.My post 'Mikroraion Life' in my Travels in Deepest Muscovy blog  on life in Kotel'niki  is here.You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows, and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials right here. Support the show
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Sep 1, 2022 • 17min

In Moscow's Shadows 77: Gorbachev's Hope vs Putin's Victimhood, a short rumination

A short, one-segment piece in which I consider one of the less widely-discussed aspects of Gorbachev's legacy (and quite why he sat so uncomfortably for the present regime): that he stood for hope (however naive or badly-executed sometimes) rather than the victimhood at the heart of Putin's message.My snap appreciation of Gorbachev is here, and Leon Aron's obit is here.You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows, and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials right here. Support the show
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Aug 28, 2022 • 58min

In Moscow's Shadows 76: The Impotence of Power and Giving Liz Truss some options for Narrative Warfare

How far is the Kremlin grappling with the problem of power and relevance: it has made promises, it issues decree, but is it really able to achieve any more at home than in the stalemate in Ukraine? Does Putin's recent decree on expanding the military mean more than just more Potemkin politics? And as a result, are more and more elements of Russian society seeing the regime as incapable, creating a dangerous potential threat?In the second half, Liz Truss, the UK's likely next prime minister, has vowed that 'Britain will expose Putin’s lies to the world' - I suggest some ways in which London can sharpen and expand its narrative warfare game.Truss's article in the Telegraph is here; my piece in the Sunday Times is here (there may be paywalls for both), and Francis Scarr of BBC Monitoring's twitter handle is @Francis_Scarr.You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows, and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials right here. Support the show

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