Could the crisis in Ukraine transform Russia?

Most of the commentary surrounding the extraordinary “euromaidan” demonstrations and fall of Ukraine’s government has focused on Russia’s influence on Ukraine, and in particular, the question of Russian intervention to support the now-deposed Yanukovich government....

After Sochi, where is Russia headed?

Take a look at the graph below of the economic performance of the major oil-rich nations of the world over the past 30 years. The divergence is startling. In this case, “major” is defined as a population exceeding 3 million. “Oil-rich” means that oil exports account...

Russia’s New Direction

Russia’s economy is booming and its debt rated investment grade. And yet, in the past week alone – a near-miss bank run, threats of bankruptcy for energy giant Yukos, and the editor of Forbes magazine’s Russia edition gunned down in an apparent contract hit. Where is...

The Russian Supertanker Turns on a Dime

Russia’s economy is booming and its debt rated investment grade. And yet, in the past week alone – a near-miss bank run, threats of bankruptcy for energy giant Yukos, and the editor of Forbes magazine’s Russia edition gunned down in an apparent contract hit. Where is...