This intentionally-named blog is a space where I explore international politics, economy and security issues, with dashes of cultural or historical context. My hope is to provide insight into a particular subject and inform, as well as transform, perceptions of the issue. The focus is an amalgamation of regions including but not limited to: the Russian Federation and the former Soviet Union, its borders and its sphere of influence. I will also occasionally cover other countries or topics of interest.

These areas of the world fascinate me due to their inherently connective yet contentious nature; they are regions which connect cultures and ideologies that at their further reaches can be incredibly juxtaposed, and often cause conflict. These states’ politics, economic performance and rates of human development differ greatly, yet despite these differences and complexities, many have seen political violence and/or authoritarian rule in the wake of the Soviet Union’s collapse.