The Slavic Connexion

Post-Soviet Protests, Politics, and Premature Dismissals of Russia's Regional Governors

August 18th, 2023  |  Season 5  |  33 mins 6 secs

elections, politics, protest, russia, war

On this episode, Lera and Cullan chat with Tatiana Tkacheva, a research fellow at the Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg, about authoritarianism in Russia and the strategies of the autocrat in dealing with regional governors. In her paper, she and her co-authors attempt to answer this question by using the example of premature withdrawals and dismissals of Russia’s regional governors from office. Tatiana also talks about her previous publications about the United Russia (UR) party and their declining popularity in Russia. Thanks for listening!

Youth Political Engagement in the 2019 Ukrainian Presidential Election

April 15th, 2022  |  Season 4  |  45 mins 34 secs

elections, politics, social media, ukraine

In this episode, we feature participants of a UT student-driven project back in spring 2019 which examined Ukrainian youth political engagement during the presidential election in which Volodymyr Zelenskyy ultimately beat incumbent Petro Poroshenko. The team discusses the fascinating process by which they began their research, how they connected with Ukrainian students via Skype (not Zoom!), and what it was like when they eventually traveled to Ukraine itself. The lasting relationships and connections they made during that memorable month abroad in summer 2019 inform their thinking and processing of the War in Ukraine today. Take a listen!

From the Russian Far East to the American West with Matthew Luxmoore (RFE/RL)

December 1st, 2020  |  Season 3  |  33 mins 2 secs

american politics, belarus, elections, regional conflicts, russia, turkey

On this episode, Zack speaks with journalist Matthew Luxmoore. Matthew is the Moscow Correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and his work has appeared in The New York Times, Foreign Policy, Politico, and elsewhere. Zach and Matthew discuss a wide-range of issues, from the Russian Far East to the current state of the Russian opposition movement, to environmental concerns and other current affairs of the day. We hope you enjoy!

"Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans" with Jasmin Mujanovic

October 25th, 2020  |  Season 3  |  51 mins 58 secs

balkans, china, democratization, elections, european union, regional politics

Dr. Jasmin Muajnovic, a political scientist focused on democratization and social movements in the Western Balkans and a host of podcast "Sarajevo Calling", joins Samantha and Cullan for an in-depth discussion on the state of democracy in the region in 2020. This is a great walkthrough of the elite maneuvering and politics in the Western Balkans and which nuclear powers hold sway and influence in the region. We hope you enjoy!

Kyrgyzstan's Uphill Battle for Democracy with Nazgul Kulova

October 16th, 2020  |  Season 3  |  41 mins 27 secs

democracy, elections, kyrgyzstan, organized crime, protests

On this episode, we discuss the ongoing political crisis in Kyrgyzstan that resulted from the disputed October 4th elections with Nazgul Kulova, a resident of Bishkek (the capital of Kyrgyzstan) and a policy analyst in the mining sector. As a former government official at the State Agency for Mineral Resources, she has worked with various international organizations and is thus a valuable inside resource. We hope you enjoy!

Matt and Nazgul discussed Kyrgyzstan's tumultuous political history, the motivations for constant upheaval, and the consequences of the latest political crisis gripping the country.

Post-Election Passivity and the Poisonous Politics of Petrostates with Maria Snegovaya

September 24th, 2020  |  Season 3  |  47 mins 49 secs

belarus, civic engagement, educational exchange, elections, navalny, russia, venezuela, youth

In this episode, Matt discussed with Dr. Maria Snegovaya the leading issues of the day in the Slavic region. Namely, the aftermath of Russia's recent regional elections, the Kremlin's response to Alexei Navalny's poisoning, and the ongoing spectre of Russian intervention in Belarus's post-election crisis. We hope you enjoy!

SPECIAL EDITION: The Fate of Alexei Navalny

August 21st, 2020  |  Season 3  |  30 mins 38 secs

anti-corruption, dissidents, elections, navalny, politics, russia

On this episode recorded August 21, 2020, Matt and Lera speak with Alexei Navalny's close co-collaborator on anti-corruption in Russia, Maxim Mironov. They discuss the current situation with Alexei Navalny's alleged poisoning and also Russian state corruption in a broader, global context. Thank you for listening.

Belarus Elections 2020: The End of Europe's Last Dictator?

August 6th, 2020  |  Season 3  |  43 mins 1 sec

alexander lukashenko, belarus, democracy, elections, former soviet states, svetlana tikhanovskaya

Is this the end of Europe's Last Dictator? Find out in this special current events episode featuring Belarusian political scientist Aliaksandr Herasimenka about the exciting presidential elections in Belarus, where embattled Alexander Lukashenko faces the most organized opposition in the history of his 26 years as president.

Rock the USSR Part 2 (with Artemy Troitsky and Tom Garza)

April 8th, 2020  |  Season 2  |  55 mins 21 secs

elections, pandemic, putin, russian rock, soviet history, subculture

Back for more via Zoom, Tom Garza joins Matt and Tom once again to discuss Russian rock during the late USSR period to modern-day Russia, the power of nostalgia, and the role of music in COVID-19. And this time legendary music critic Artemy Troitsky also joins from Estonia. Hope you enjoy!! The previous episode can be found here: https://www.slavxradio.com/sovietskyrock

"The Colorful Revolution" Part 2 of 2

September 12th, 2019  |  Season 2  |  25 mins 15 secs

albania, anticorruption movements, bulgaria, corruption, elections, macedonia, mass protest, political unrest, social democratic party

Part 2 of "The Colorful Revolution" with Aleksej Demjanski...