International relations expert set to deliver professorial lecture on Russia and the Ukrainian crisis

The motives, strategy and endgame of Russia’s involvement in the escalating crisis in Ukraine is set to be the focus of a professorial lecture at Plymouth University this month. Professor Graeme Herd, Head of the School of Government in the University’s Faculty of Business, will analyse the situation in Eastern Europe in his lecture Russia After Ukraine: Systemic Change or Business as Usual? It will include an assessment of the implications of Russia’s behaviour for those countries in the former Soviet bloc, whether it amounts to an actual attack upon the Atlantic order or mere spoiling tactic, and whether it’s a sign of strength or weakness on Russia’s part. Professor Herd said: “Russia has dominated the global agenda in 2014: from the spectacle of the Sochi Winter Olympics and Paralympics to escalating political turmoil in the Crimea and Ukraine and renewed East-West tension. “Those that run Russia tend to own Russia, and I think that they feel a lack of concern for two reasons. First, their propaganda is too effective – they believe it. And second, their reputational loss is more than compensated for by President Putin’s rising domestic popularity and its own pivot away from Europe to China and the Asia-Pacific. However, a ‘champagne effect’ is underway – Russia has lost Ukraine, its Customs Union is unviable and a self-imposed clamp down on 5th columnists and national traitors strongly suggests the future will be characterised by economic stagnation, authoritarianism and the alienation of its best and brightest – its well-educated, creative and entrepreneurial class.