Event

The Russia Conference 2026: Violence in Russia

Why are the levels of violence in Russia so high, and how do they impact the country's political and economic development and its international relations? These are among the topics we will discuss at the Russia Conference 2026.

13 October 2026

09:30 - 14:50 Europe/Oslo

Language: English

Forstanderskapssalen, Sentralen, Øvre Slottsgate 3

Seminar

Themes

Post-Soviet Russia suffers from an enduring problem with violence. This manifests itself in various ways, from high homicide rates and widespread domestic violence to war crimes in military conflicts. When looking at various indices of violence, Russia scores significantly higher than most other countries with advanced economies. Why are the levels of violence in Russia so high, and how do they impact the country's political and economic development and its international relations? These are among the topics we will discuss at the Russia Conference 2026.

THE CONFERENCE IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL. REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SOON.

The conference’s three panels – manifestation of violence, economic consequences of violence, and societal consequences of violence – discuss how violence shapes Russia’s political, economic and social development. These are important topics that also contribute to a deeper understanding of the consequences of the war in Ukraine for Russia’s further development.

This year’s Russia Conference is a collaboration between the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and the National network for competence on Russia (RUSSNETT), coordinated by NUPI.

The conference presents the main findings from the NFR-financed project Political and Societal Violence in Russia (POSOR).

The conference will also be streamed to NUPI's YouTube channel.

PROGRAMME:

09:00-09.30      Registration

09:30-10.00 Conference Opening

MFA
NUPI
FFI

10.00-10.30 Keynote: Making Violence Ordinary: State, Society and Moral Order in Contemporary Russia
Svetlana Stephenson (London Metropolitan University)

10.30-10.45 Break

10.45-11.45 Panel discussion: Manifestation of violence

Moderator: Natalia Moen-Larsen (NUPI)

This first panel discusses why Russian state and sub-state actors engage in violence and why the character and intensity of brutality change over time. Topics include right-wing violence, Russian treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, violence as a tool over governance in the North Caucasus, and how the Kremlin manages its diplomacy of violence.
Panel:

Johannes Due Enstad (Norwegian Institute for Social Research)
Tor Bukkvoll (FFI)
Julie Wilhelmsen (NUPI)
Matthew Blackburn (NUPI)

11.45-12.30 Lunch

12.30-13.30 Panel discussion: The economic consequenses of violence

Moderator: Kristian Lundby Gjerde (NUPI)

Introduction: Richard Connoly (RUSI)

In the second panel we take a look at the economic and political consequences for Russia of the high levels of violence. We discuss the effects of the war against Ukraine on the Russian economy and on political-regional relations, and we also examine the historical connection between the absence of the rule of law and violence.

Panel:

Richard Connolly (RUSI)
Stefan Hedlund (Univ. Uppsala)
Emily Ferris (RUSI)
Julie Udal (FFI)

13.30-13.45 Coffee break

13.45-14.45 Panel discussion: The societal consequences of violence

Moderator: Guri Tyldum (FAFO)

Introduction: Yuliya Brin (Univ. Helsinki)

The third and final panel is devoted to violence in Russian society. Here, we focus on the effects of the war on domestic violence, whether military law and justice may discipline and control violence, how violence limits academic freedom and how scapegoating narratives drive and legitimate violence in Russian society.

Panel: