A CEELBAS Public Policy Conference

St Antony's College, Nissan Institute Lecture Theatre

Russia’s post-communist transition will enter a new phase next year when Vladimir Putin steps down as the country’s president. The process of change will begin with parliamentary elections in December 2007, which will be closely followed by presidential elections. Uncertainty about Vladimir Putin’s political role after 2008 continues to shape political developments in Russia, and the solution of this problem will have major consequences for Russia’s social, economic and political development, as well as its relationship with the rest of the world. In this one-day conference, the impact of Putin’s presidency on Russia’s post-Soviet transformation was assessed and the likely consequences of the presidential succession were evaluated. The conference was organised to coincide with Russia’s parliamentary elections. It provided up-to-date analyses of the results of the elections and the demographic, political, economic and international trends that are likely to shape Russian politics for many years to come. The conference also assessed the significance of Putin’s presidency for important areas of economic and social life. Given Russia’s resurgence as an economic and global power under Vladimir Putin, this event addressed issues that are of great concern to businesspeople and public policy practitioners who work with Russia on a regular basis.

Working Papers

Professor Julian Cooper, University of Birmingham: 'Russia as a BRIC: Only a Dream?'

Dr Christopher Davis, University of Oxford: 'Demography, Health and the Economy in Russia in the Transition Period'

Dr Peter Duncan, University College London: ''Oligarchs', Business and Russian Foreign Policy: from El'tsin to Putin'

Professor Philip Hanson, University of Birmingham: 'The Russian economic puzzle: going forwards, backwards or sideways?'

Sir Roderic Lyne, Former UK Ambassador to Russia: 'Russia and the West: Is Confrontation Inevitable?'

Professor Richard Sakwa, University of Kent: 'Factionalism and Russian Politics' with tables

Conference Programme

9.15-10.45 Economic Developments in Putin’s Russia

Chair: Carol Leonard (Oxford)

Speakers: Julian Cooper (Birmingham), Christopher Davis (Oxford), Philip Hanson (The Royal Institute of International Affairs)

10.45-11.15 Coffee break in the Buttery

11.15-12.45 Politics in the Putin Era and Beyond

Chair: Robert Service (Oxford)
Speakers: Vladimir Mau (Institute of Transitional Economics), Richard Sakwa (Kent), Paul Chaisty (Oxford)

13.00-14.00 Lunch at St. Antony’s College (Dining Hall)

14.00-15.30 Russia’s Resurgence as a Major World Power under Putin: Will it continue?

Chair: Peter Duncan (SSEES)
Speakers: Fyodor Lukyanov (Editor of Russia in Global Affairs), Caroline Kennedy-Pipe (Warwick), Alex Pravda (Oxford)

15.30-16.00 Coffee break in the Buttery

16.00-17.30 Roundtable Discussion: New Directions for Russia?

Chair: Alex Pravda (Oxford)
Speakers: Vladimir Mau, Fyodor Lukyanov, Roderic Lyne (Former UK Ambassador to Russia)