Course Description

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States and the European Union put the spotlight on Russian oligarchs and their relationship with the Russian leadership, especially President Vladimir Putin. Western governments believe that Russian oligarchs are integral to Russian leadership and act as a policy and economic tool to support the leadership’s legal and illicit activities in return for lucrative concessions from the Russian state. In fact, the U.S. and EU endorsed wide sanctions on Russian oligarchs, including seizing their assets. Yet questions remain about the background of the oligarchs, the extent of their relationship with the Russian state and leadership, the nature, if any, of their relationship with the vory (the Russian Mafia), and the scope and breadth of their position within the Russian leadership, especially in relation to Putin. In this special lecture, Dr. Rabil will create a socio-political profile of the Russian oligarchs by tracing their socio-political history, scrutinizing their journey to power, and locating their position within the state, the vory and Putin’s circle.