In this episode of the "Vienna Coffeehouse Conversations," host Ivan Vejvoda, a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, welcomes Kadri Liik, a senior foreign policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Liik, with her extensive background in Russian and Eastern European studies, delves into the complexities of Russia's current geopolitical situation, particularly in the wake of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Liik reflects on Russia's historical evolution, discussing how the country's desire for control and power, both domestically and internationally, has shaped its foreign policy and societal dynamics. She emphasizes the country's gradual shift from seeking a transactional relationship with the West to adopting more aggressive and isolationist strategies. The conversation further explores the internal political climate in Russia, highlighting the impact of Putin's prolonged rule, the country's struggle with authoritarianism, and the potential for future self-correction. Liik offers insights into the younger generation in Russia, their perspectives, and the potential for change in the post-Putin era. Liik and Vejvoda also discuss the global implications of Russia's actions, particularly its relationships with China and the West. The episode concludes with contemplations on Russia's future, its place in Europe, and the ongoing challenges posed by its current foreign policy trajectory.
In this episode of Vienna Coffeehouse Conversations Ivan Vejvoda hosts IWM and ECFR fellow Kadri Liik for an urgent and pressing discussion of Russia's geopolitical climate as influenced by its historical trajectory and the evolving preoccupations of President Putin. The conversation navigates Russia's internal political dynamics, the country's evolving relationship with the West, and its position on global matters, especially in light of the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Liik’s perspective on Russia's future, the potential for self-correction, and its interactions with China and the European Union shed a thoughtful and engaging light on the complex fabric of Russia's foreign policy and societal structure.
IWM Europe's Futures fellow Kadri Liik is also a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, with a focused expertise on Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Baltic region. Prior to joining the ECFR in 2012, Liik served as the Director of the International Center for Defense Studies in Estonia. Her career includes roles as a Moscow correspondent for Estonian newspapers, foreign news editor at Postimees, and editor-in-chief at the foreign affairs magazine Diplomaatia. With her experience as a journalist, including hosting the current affairs talk show Välismääraja, Liik brings a unique blend of journalistic acumen and deep policy knowledge to the discussion on Russia’s global role and future prospects.
For further information about Kadri Liik and her work, you can visit her ECFR profile at https://ecfr.eu/profile/kadri_liik/.
Find Kadri on X @KadriLiik.
Ivan Vejvoda is Head of the Europe's Futures program at IWM implemented in partnership with ERSTE Foundation. The program is dedicated to the cultivation of knowledge and the generation of ideas addressing pivotal challenges confronting Europe and the European Union: nexus of borders and migration, deterioration in rule of law and democracy and European Union’s enlargement prospects.
The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) is an institute of advanced studies in the humanities and social sciences. Founded as a place of encounter in 1982 by a young Polish philosopher, Krzysztof Michalski, and two German colleagues in neutral Austria, its initial mission was to create a meeting place for dissenting thinkers of Eastern Europe and prominent scholars from the West.
Since then it has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions that now embrace the Global South and North. The IWM is an independent and non-partisan institution, and proudly so. All of our fellows, visiting and permanent, pursue their own research in an environment designed to enrich their work and to render it more accessible within and beyond academia.
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