Putin V. the People – Book Presentation by Samuel Greene and Graeme Robertson

Samuel Greene (King's College London) and Graeme Robertson (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) will discuss their newly published book, Putin V. the People: The Perilous Politics of a Divided Russia (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2019). The event is free, but registration is required - please book your ticket via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/putin-v-the-people-book-presentation-by-sam-greene-and-graeme-robertson-tickets-60571523056.  

Abstract

What do ordinary Russians think of Putin? Who are his supporters? And why might their support now be faltering? Alive with the voices and experiences of ordinary Russians and elites alike, Samuel Greene and Graeme Robertson craft a compellingly original account of contemporary Russian politics. Telling the story of Putin’s rule through pivotal episodes such as the aftermath of the "For Fair Elections" protests, the annexation of Crimea, and the War in Eastern Ukraine, Greene and Robertson draw on interviews, surveys, social media data, and leaked documents to reveal how hard Putin has to work to maintain broad popular support, while exposing the changing tactics that the Kremlin has used to bolster his popularity. Unearthing the ambitions, emotions, and divisions that fuel Russian politics, this book illuminates the crossroads to which Putin has led his country and shows why his rule is more fragile than it appears.

Biographies

Samuel Greene is Director of the Russia Institute at King's College London and a Reader in Russian politics. He received his PhD from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Prior to moving to London in 2012, he lived and worked in Moscow for 13 years, most recently as director of the Centre for the Study of New Media & Society at the New Economic School, and as deputy director of the Carnegie Moscow Centre. Samuel's work focuses on the relationships of power in contemporary Russia, including social movements, conflict, elite-mass relations and elite strategies. Broadly, he seeks to employ a variety of qualitative approaches from political science and political sociology to uncover Russians’ evolving understanding of their state, their identity as citizens and the meaning of their political community. He is also interested in bounded comparisons involving similar questions in other authoritarian contexts.

Graeme Robertson is Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Director of the Centre for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies. He received his BA from Oxford University (1990), an MA in Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies from Harvard University (1997), and his PhD from Columbia University (2004). A specialist in comparative politics, Graeme’s work focuses on political protest and the dynamics of competition between rulers and their challengers in contemporary authoritarian political systems. His recent publications include work on political institutions in authoritarian regimes, analysis of the structural and political factors that shape regime dynamics and studies of the individual-level determinants of support for and opposition to authoritarian regimes. 

Celebrating 100 years of Russian lecturing at Edinburgh

This event is one of a series taking place in 2019 to celebrate the centenary of Hugh G. Brennan’s first lecture on a graduating course in Russian at the University of Edinburgh. We are proud to be the oldest Russian department in Scotland, with non-graduating lectures starting in 1916, and our undergraduate degree course introduced in 1949. Today, we offer a range of undergraduate degrees, an MSc by Research, and a PhD in Russian Studies, as well as teaching in interdisciplinary masters programmes. The University also hosts the Princess Dashkova Russian Centre, an internationally recognised research and public engagement centre which runs a series of academic and cultural events, including conferences, lectures, film festivals, and events with Russian award-winning writers.

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