Russian for Wonks: The Geopolitics of Summer Camp
For many Russian children, summer camp is a cherished rite of passage—an escape from school routines into a world of bonfires, games, and shared songs….
Read MoreEconomy
A Guide to Russia’s Resources
Natural resources remain a crucial part of Russia’s economy and play a role in its projection of power abroad. Domestically, resource rents (profits) accounted for…
Recommended Books for Understanding Russia
The following books are those that have left a deep impression on me. They are books that I was driven to pick up and keep…
Warsaw’s Public Transport: History and Current Use
Poland offers a broad network of public transportation with Warsaw serving as the central hub. Traveling to and around Warsaw is simple whether you arrive…
The Silk Road Railway: Will It Ever Happen?
In June 2022, the governments of China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan announced that construction on the long-awaited Silk Road Railway will begin in early 2023. A…
5G Networks in Russia: Development and Trajectories
Technology is constantly evolving, utilizing ever more bandwidth and making ever more connections between people and devices. Because of this, new cellular networks are needed…
Artificial Intelligence in Russia
Artificial intelligence has been rising in practical uses for the past several decades. From smart devices to automated weapons, it has changed the way humans…
A Traveler’s Guide to Russian Banks
Many traveler’s handbooks, in the 1990s and even into the 2000s, warned foreigners to be wary of ATMs in Russia. A lot has changed since…
Renting in Russia: Language, Legalities, and Culture
The word for “landlord” in Russian is actually the same as the word for “host” – . Renting in Russia, whether apartments or rooms, comes…
Moscow’s Reopening and COVID Response: A View from the Ground
As of Tuesday, June 23rd, after nearly three months of quarantine measures, Moscow has reopened. The city was able to mobilize phenomenal resources and put…
The Dacha in Modern Russian History and Legislation
The Russian word “дача” is often translated into English as “summer residence” or “cottage,” but the best translation is simply a transliteration to English: “dacha.”…
The Logistics of Social Change and Times of Crisis
With quarantine foremost on everyone’s minds, many are asking how current events will change society. Many articles have been published. Yet, very few bother to…
New Diameter Lines of Moscow Metro Open
Moscow’s public transportation system continues to grow and develop at an incredible pace. New “above ground” metro lines are now being developed, which include a…
Major Forum Held on Implementation of National Projects
This resource looks at Russian news broadcasts and presents each with rhetorical and contextual analysis as well as a brief vocabulary list aimed at intermediate-level…
International Summit On Municipal Infrastructure
This resource looks at Russian news broadcasts and presents each with rhetorical and contextual analysis as well as a brief vocabulary list aimed at intermediate-level…
Apartments in Russia: 1917 – Present
When the Soviets took over Russia, it was a mostly rural, agricultural country. Most Russians lived in smaller villages and towns in traditional housing units….
Russian Roads and Rails
Transportation infrastructure is crucial to the economy of any country. At its most elemental level, an economy is a network of goods and services moving…
Anton Siluanov: Russia’s Conservative Minister of Finance
Anton Siluanov is the First Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance for the Russian Federation. A career Ministry of Finance employee, Siluanov has…
Grocery Shopping in Russia: 1917 – Present
In the past century, Russia has experienced different economic systems and many societal changes. One industry that reflects this, perhaps more than any other, is…
Russian for Wonks: Sanctions-Related Russian Vocabulary
Sanctions against Russia have been a complex and ever-changing US-led effort. Some other countries, most prominently the EU, have also enacted sanctions, but there is…