Here to Stay: What Putin’s Referendum Means for Russia and the World
By Nate McGhie Russians went to the polls July 1st to vote on a referendum that will make sweeping changes to their constitution, most notably greatly expanding President Vladimir Putin’s federal power and extending his potential presidency to the year 2036. The longtime Russian leader’s term limit was set to…
No Laughing Matter: The Rise of Ukraine’s Comedian-President
By Nate McGhie In the wake of the 2014 Euromaidan uprisings in Ukraine, comedian and actor Volodymyr Zelenskiy created, produced, and starred in “Servant of the People”, a TV series about an unknown history teacher winning the presidential elections. The show is a satirical take on the corruption and inefficiency…
Tbilisi’s Political Woes Continue
Protests in Tbilisi ignited in Juneafter Russian lawmaker Sergei Gavrilov, deputy of the Russian State Duma, sat in the Georgian parliamentary speaker’s seat and addressed the audience in Russian. Protesters were not only angry about the Kremlin’s overreach into Georgia, but also with the Georgian Dream Party, which protesters claim…
Huawei and Russia: A Strategic Partnership
In recent months, Russia has been working with Chinese tech company Huawei to bolster its economy and infrastructure. Huawei has been able to leverage its joint venture with Russia to bolster their research and company goals. Huawei’s and Russia’s partnership is mutually beneficial, as Russia does not currently have a…
Russian Arms Deals-Altering the Balance of Power in the East
By Taylor Hill While it cannot be categorically stated that the United States “won” the Cold War, the fall of the Soviet Union and the ensuing economic and political turmoil in Russia left the United States as the only surviving global superpower. In the early 1990s, the modern-day perception of…