For now there is little hope of a peace deal, but back-channel agreements show that Ukraine and Russia are at least talking.
- Professor, International Politics, University of Exeter
Russia is pursuing influence in Central Asia and competing with the US. Afghanistan offers it a chance to do both.
Central Asia’s most populous country is stagnant and repressive, but its two massive neighbours want in now Islam Karimov is gone.
Carl Schmitt rejected the Nazis, but his political philosophy paved the way for the likes of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
A renewed security focus on Afghanistan is part of Vladimir Putin’s plan to re-energise Russia’s vision of a ‘Greater Eurasia’.
Russia sees last week’s FIFA arrests as politically motivated mischief-making by the US. A UEFA boycott would add to this paranoia.
When delegates assemble in Colombo later this month for the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM), much of the talk at the summit will be of “moving forward” and of “reconciliation”. The government…
Contact David for
- General
- Media request
- Speaking request
- Consulting / Advising
- Research collaboration
- Research supervision
