CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO:

POLITICAL PARTIES AND DEMOCRATIZATION IN PUTIN’S RUSSIA:
A PUBLIC PRESENTATION AND ROUNDTABLE

Featured Speakers:

Dorin Tudoran, Senior Director, Communications and Research, IFES (Chair)
Prof. Susanna Pshizova, Political Science Dept., Moscow State University
Prof. Andrey Dakhin, Political Science Dept., State Engineering University, Nizhniy Novgorod
Prof. Valery Konovalov, Political Science Dept., Rostov State University
Dr. Thomas Wood, Program Officer, IFES (Discussant)

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Monday, May 22, 12-2 p.m.
1101 15th Street N.W., Third Floor, Washington, DC
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Recent U.S. accusations that Russia is backsliding on democracy have heightened debate about the extent to which democratic institutions have taken root in Russia in the face of growing state power. Another facet of this debate centers on Russia’s more assertive position toward neighbors in the Near Abroad, particularly in the Caucasus. These trends come as Russia prepares for parliamentary elections next year and a presidential election in 2008. At the same time that Russia moves toward greater centralization of authority, weakened political parties and proscribed civil society, there is an increasing preoccupation among Russian political elites with importing Western-style campaign management, candidate promotion, and public relations.

Professor Susana Pshizova is an associate professor of Political Science at Moscow State University. Professor Pshizova has published widely on Russian politics, and is co-chair of the research project on political parties in post-Soviet space, Committee on Political Sociology for the International Political Science Association. She is currently an IREX research fellow hosted by IFES in Washington, DC.

Professor Andrey Dakhin is chair of the Philosophy and Political Science Department at the State Architectural and Civil Engineering University of Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, where he has worked since 1985. Currently an IREX research fellow hosted by the University of Georgia, Professor Dakhin is the author of numerous publications, the most recent of which are: "Institution of Elections in Russia: Binary Structure, Democracy, Security" (2005).

Professor Valery Konovalov teaches at the Rostov State University Department of Sociology and Political Science and also serves as director of the Rostov State University Regional Resource Center of Political Science. Recent publications include "National and Regional Security on the North Caucasus" (2005). He is currently an IREX research fellow hosted by George Mason University.

To attend, please send an RSVP to
ekim@ifes.org or 202-350-6834
Light refreshments will be provided