Samuel Ramani

Foreign policy expert Dr Samuel Ramani says Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is inspired by a policy of global counter-revolution and he looks at the long-term implications for Russia and the global order.

Ramani says Putin’s policy of global counter-revolution grew out of his desire to unite Russia around a common set of principles and to consolidate his personal brand of authoritarianism. It is this domestic driver that led him to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine rather than the notion of preventing NATO expansion. The desire to restore a central element of Russia’s sphere of influence has, instead, descended into a war of attrition and a crumbling Russian economy. What does this mean for Russia’s future politics and foreign policy?

Ramani teaches politics and international relations at the University of Oxford. He is author of Russia in Africa and contributes analysis to major news channels.