Andrew Monaghan

From the conflict in Syria to the crisis in Ukraine, Russia continues to dominate the headlines. Yet the political realities of contemporary Russia are poorly understood by Western observers and policy-makers. In this talk Monaghan explains why we tend to misunderstand Russia - and the importance of 'getting Russia right'.

Exploring in detail the relationship between the West and Russia, he charts the development of relations and investigates the causes of the increasingly obvious sense of strategic dissonance. He also considers the evolution in Russian domestic politics, introducing influential current figures and those who are forming the leadership and opposition of the future.

By delving into the depths of difficult questions such as the causes of the Ukraine crisis or the political protests surrounding the 2011-12 elections, he offers a dynamic model for understanding this most fascinating and elusive of countries.

Dr Andrew Monaghan is senior research fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House. He is also the founder and director of the Russia Research Network, an independent organization for the generation of information and expertise on Russian politics, security and economic issues.

A Q & A Session will follow.