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This conference presents the main findings of the RUSMENA project, funded by the Research Council of Norway. Launched in 2021, the project set out to explore Russian foreign policy actions in a group of countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in order to better understand Russian power politics and its repertoire.Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the project’s scope was expanded. In addition to the MENA region, the researchers now also examine Russian power practices in the Black Sea region, where Russian actions threaten the existing security architecture in Europe and challenge the global order.
The structure of this year’s conference reflects this broader perspective and is organized into three thematic sessions.
The first session addresses how Russian power practices can be studied – both in general terms and in the current context.
The second explores examples of Russia’s power projection in the MENA region and examines how regional actors have responded. It also looks at how Russia has exercised power in the Black Sea region, where it has increasingly relied on military means since 2014, and especially after 2022.
Finally, the third session asks Russia experts and stakeholders to assess the extent to which Russia’s use of power is driven by its quest for recognition as a great power that others must take into account.
The conference will be held at Sentralen (Forstanderskapssalen) in Oslo. It will also be live streamed to NUPI's YouTube channel:
Programme
9:00-9:30 Registration
9:30-9:40 Opening of the Conference by Kari M. Osland, Director of NUPI
9:40-10:15 Keynote speech
Derek Averre, University of Birmingham, Persistent Factors in Russian Policy towards MENA
10:15-11:30 Panel presentation: How to Study Russian Politics in the Current Context?
Chair: Kristin Fjæstad
Iver Neumann, FNI; The Practice Turn and the Study of Russian Power Politics
Julie Wilhelmsen, NUPI/Karen Philippa Larsen, DIIS; Russian foreign policy prototypes – the Case of the Near and Far Abroads
Jakub M. Godzimirski, NUPI; Power Discourses, Power Practices and Power Repertoires – Do Actions Speak Louder than Words?
11:30-12:15 Lunch
12:15-13:15 Panel presentation: Russian Power Practices in the MENA and the Black Sea Region
Chair: Matthew Blackburn
Virginie Collombier, LUISS Mediterranean Platform Rome; Russian soft power practices in the MENA region
Tine Gade, NUPI; MENA Reception of the Russian Policy – the case of Saudi Arabia
Kristian Åtland, FFI; Russian power practices in the Black Sea Region 2014-2025
13:15-13:30 Coffee break
13:30-14:15 Panel Discussion: Making Russia Great Again and the New Era of Great Power Competition
Moderator: Iver B. Neumann
Jeffrey Mankoff, National Defense University, Washington DC
Sabine Fischer, SWP Berlin
Morten Høglund, MFA Norway
Luigi Narbone, LUISS Mediterranean Platform Rome
14:15-14.20 Closing remarks, Jakub M. Godzimirski
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Øvre Slottsgate 3, 0157 Oslo, Norge, Øvre Slottsgate 3, 0157 Oslo, Norge, Oslo, Norway
Tickets
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