CEES and CSIS Joint Conference: Russia and International Conflict
What are the political and economic implications of Russia’s involvement in conflicts abroad? How should the Russian authoritarian regime and its expansionist behaviour be understood in the context of the war in Ukraine? And what is the future of the rules-based international order amid a resurgent Russian threat?
On February 26th, the Centre for European and Eurasian Studies (CEES), in collaboration with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), convened the conference Russia and International Conflict to address these urgent questions. The event brought together scholars, analysts, and practitioners for a day of panels and discussion that continued well beyond the formal sessions.
The opening panel examined both mechanized and non-mechanized warfare tactics employed by the Russian state, highlighting its expanding maritime presence in the Mediterranean and its reliance on complex logistics networks—against the backdrop of serious demographic and economic constraints. The second panel explored Russia’s influence in conflicts abroad, emphasizing how Putin’s use of private military companies has advanced Russia’s global ambitions through strategic deception.
A second session turned to the theme of geo-criminality, analyzing the rapid expansion of organized crime networks into Europe and the ways in which “organized crime states” operate. One speaker drew attention to the uneven implementation of EU sanctions across the Baltics and Poland, underscoring challenges to Western unity in countering Russian aggression.
The final panel delved into the ideology underpinning “Putinism,” considering how narratives of strength and fear are weaponized through war propaganda and used to consolidate political control.
Through this collaboration between CEES and CSIS, the conference fostered meaningful exchange among students, scholars, and field experts on the realities of Russian interventionism and its implications for global security. It underscored the ongoing need for dialogue and cooperation among diverse actors committed to defending the principles of sovereignty and collective security in an increasingly polarized world.
