During the Soviet Union, the state used two organs to suppress dissent: the Party and the KGB. Under Putin, the mechanisms for control have changed, centering around an autocrat and oligarchs who serve as assistants. Weak, falsifiable elections provide a veneer of democracy while social media and freedom of emigration remain in place as safety valves.
The discussion will draw upon key findings from Peter Reddaway’s recent book The Dissidents: A Memoir of Working with the Resistance in Russia, 1960-1990.
This event will be held on the record.
Participants
Speaker: Peter Reddaway, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University
Chair: James Nixey, Programme Director, Russia and Eurasia, Chatham House
