Skip to content
NUPI skole

New NUPI research on developments in Russian ideology, society and regional relations

Several NUPI researchers from the EAST research group attended the Aleksanteri Conference in Helsinki on the topic "Extremisms: Ambiguities, Ideologies, Agency" 22 - 24 October.
Aleksanteri_cropped.jpg

Back row (from the left): Bendik Mogens Manum, Matthew Blackburn, Kristian Lundby Gjerde, Kristin Fjæstad. Front row (from the left): Natalia Moen-Larsen, Julie Wilhelmsen and Vera Lind.

Photo: Ane Teksum Isbrekken/NUPI

They presented a range of projects on the developments in Russian ideology, society and regional relations since 2022. The conference featured many interesting talks and discussions about extremism, repression and illiberalism in Russia and Central Asia.

Together with colleagues from other institutes, the NUPI researchers presented their work in two panels:

The first panel focused on various domestic aspects of Russia. 

Matthew Blackburn discussed the role of regime ideology in grassroots politicisation and pro-war mobilisation. Natalia Moen-Larsen presented on pronatalism in popular culture post 2022. 

Maxim Alyukov (University of Manchester) and Kristian Lundby Gjerde covered wartime disinformation, and Jules Sergei Fediunin (University of Oslo) presented on demographic trends in wartime Russia. 

The session was chaired by Vera Lind.

The second NUPI-led panel, chaired by Bendik Mogens Manum, focused on the regional and international dimension. 

Kristin Fjæstad presented her ongoing work on Kazakhstan’s navigation of the Caspian Sea post 2022.

Julie Wilhelmsen discussed resistance in the current North Caucasus, and Helge Blakkisrud (University of Oslo) presented on patron-client relations in post-Soviet de facto state conflicts. Guri Tyldum (Fafo) presented her ongoing work on Russian draft evasion and resistance to war.

 

  • Click here for more information about our research on Russia and Eurasia.
Relevant content
Research project
Research project
National network for competence on Russia