The Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki launches a seminar series on the Russian elections. The elections of the Duma took place on 4 December 2011 and the elections of the president will take place on 4 March 2012. Elections in Russia are always an interesting moment: Since the first Duma elections of the Russian Federation in 1993, the elections have brought into the surface otherwise rather hidden processes in the political landscape of the country.

New President, New Russia: What Next?

PDF leaflet

Time: 14 March, 09:00-13:00
Place: Unioninkatu 33, banquet hall, 3rd floor

CHAIR: Antti Helanterä, Deputy Director, Policy Planning and Research, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

09:00-09:30 Opening

The Problem of Succession in Russia
Jeremy Smith, Professor of Russian History and Politics, University of Eastern Finland
PPT presentation

09:30-11:00 PANEL I

From Quiescence to Civic Action. Mass Protests in Russia and their Impact on the Public and Political Environment
Maria Lipman, Editor-in-chief, Pro et Contra, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,
Moscow

The Strong Presidency and Weak Institutions. Problems of Modernisation in the Russian Federation
Nadir Kinossian, Research Fellow, University of Tromsø, Norway
PPT presentation

Russian Think Tanks: A Look on Ideas' Diversity in Russia and its Impact on the Decision-making Circles
Marlene Laruelle, Research Professor, George Washington University, USA

11:00-11:15 Coffee

11:15-12:45 PANEL II

Searching for New Gas Markets and Oil fields - Russian Energy Challenges for the Next President
András Deak, Research Director, Center for EU Enlargement Studies, Central European
University, Hungary
PPT presentation

Russian Foreign Policy – Continuity or Change?
Hanna Smith, Researcher, Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland
PPT presentation

The Vertikal – Power and Politics in Russia
Andrew Monaghan, Research Advisor, NATO Defense College, Rome

Register here by 11th March.

Please note that the views expressed by the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their organisations.

Do Elections Matter? Rallies, Reactions, Reforms

PDF leaflet

Time: 25 January, 9.00 – 11.00
Coffee: 8.30 – 9.00
Place: NB! Helsinki University Museum Arppeanum, Lecture Hall, Snellmaninkatu 3

CHAIR: Antti Helanterä, Deputy Director, Policy Planning and Research, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Challenges of Election Observation
Kimmo Kiljunen, Special Representative to Regional Peace-Mediation Tasks, Ministry for
Foreign Affairs of Finland

Do CIS Elections Matter: To Whom and Why?
Mats Lindberg, Head of Unit, Council of Europe
PPT presentation

The Show Must Go On: Elections, United Russia and the Putin Regime
Sarah Whitmore, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Oxford Brookes University, UK
PPT presentation

Falsification of Election Results in Russia? Myths and Statistics
Jukka Pietiläinen, Senior Researcher, Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki
PPT presentation

Register here by 20th January.

Please note that the views expressed by the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their organisations.

Russian Duma Elections: Mapping the Political Landscape

PDF leaflet

Time: 30 November, 9.00 – 11.00
Coffee: 8.30 – 9.00
Place: Unioninkatu 33, banquet hall, 3rd floor

CHAIR: Antti Helanterä, Deputy Director, Policy Planning and Research, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Personalistic, Peripheral and Pointless? The Russian Party-System at the End of 2011
Presentation in PDF
Sean Roberts
Intelligentsia, Cultural Elites, and Power
Presentation in PDF
Sanna Turoma and Saara Ratilainen
Religion, Nationalism and Minority Issues in Russian Elections
Presentation in PDF
Kaarina Aitamurto
Political Activity of Russia´s Youth
Presentation in PDF
Jussi Lassila
Media and Elections
Presentation in PDF
Katja Koikkalainen
Russian Duma and Foreign Relations
Presentation in PDF
Hanna Smith
Competition in the Russian Energy Sector
Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen
Presentation in PDF

Register here by 28th November.