Transnational Corruption in Foreign Policy Today

Transnational Corruption in Foreign Policy Today

Author: CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies March 20, 2026 Duration: 53:10
Max and Maria spoke with Alexander Cooley and Daniel Nexon about how authoritarian and illiberal governments leverage transnational corruption as part of their foreign policies and global strategies. This conversation was recorded on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. "The Age of Kleptocracy: Geopolitical Power, Private Gain" by Alexander Cooley and Daniel Nexon (Foreign Affairs, February 2026) Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics by Alexander Cooley and Alexander Dukalskis (Oxford University Press, 2025)

Dive deep into the political landscape, historical currents, and rich social fabric of a vast and consequential region with Russian Roulette. This podcast from the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program is guided by hosts Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya, who bring their expertise to nuanced conversations that move beyond headlines. Each episode delves into the forces shaping Russia and the diverse nations of Eurasia, unpacking everything from foreign policy and internal power dynamics to cultural shifts and societal transformations. You'll hear insightful analysis and engaging discussions with a range of experts, offering listeners a clearer understanding of the complex challenges and opportunities within the post-Soviet space. Produced by Tina Dolbaia and Nick Fenton, the podcast consistently provides context and depth on a part of the world where history is always present. For anyone curious about the intricate politics, compelling stories, and human experiences that define this area, this series serves as an essential guide, making sense of a region that often seems enigmatic from the outside.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 156

Russian Roulette
Podcast Episodes
Of Alexander Litvinenko (and mail) – Russian Roulette Episode 66 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:10
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Jeff sits down with Marina Litvinenko, an activist, campaigner, and the widow of Alexander Litvinenko, the Russian dissident poisoned in London by agents of the Russian government in…
Of Grassroots Activism in Russia – Russian Roulette Episode 65 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:20
In this episode, Olya and Jeff sit down with Evgeniya Chirikova, a Russian environmental activist who got her start organizing opposition to a planned highway project that would destroy swathes of the federally-protected…
Of Putinism and Codes – Russian Roulette Episode 64 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:43
In this episode, Olga and Jeff sit down with Brian Taylor to talk about his new book, The Code of Putinism. Brian is a professor of political science at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse Un…
Of Eurasia, in 44 Minutes – Russian Roulette Episode 63 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:33
In this episode, Olya and Jeff sit down with Bill Courtney for a complete tour d’Eurasie. Bill is an adjunct senior fellow at the RAND Corporation and a former career foreign service officer. He served as ambassador to G…
Of Summitry and Asummitry–Russian Roulette Episode 61 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:03
Jeff and Jeff take center stage in our sixty-first episode of Russian Roulette. Jeff Mankoff sits down with Jeff Rathke, senior fellow and deputy director of the Europe Program at CSIS to discuss major takeaways from the…
Of Proliferants and Nonproliferants – Russian Roulette Episode 60 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:53
In this episode of Russian Roulette, we sit down with Andrey Baklitskiy. Andrey is a consultant with the PIR Center in Moscow who writes and speaks on arms control and nonproliferation issues. We discuss Russian approach…
Of Armaments and Armenia: Russian Roulette Episode 57 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:38
In this episode of Russian Roulette, Olya sits down with Leonid Nersisyan, Military Analyst at the REGNUM Information Agency and Editor in Chief of the Moscow-based New Defense Order Strategy magazine. They discuss the s…