The CST is delighted to be hosting a very special event as their final instalment of the Highlight Speaker Series for 2018/19 - the CST Russia Conference - inviting three esteemed speakers to discuss the country and its approach international security, both in an historic and contemporary context.
Speakers
- Sir Rodric Braithwaite (Former Ambassador to the Soviet Union and Russia)
- Dr Edwin Bacon (University lf Lincoln)
- Dr Richard Connolly (University of Birmingham)
- Dr Bettina Renz (University of Nottingham)
In the first part of the workshop, Sir Rodric Braithwaite will address the role of diplomacy in dealing with current tensions between the West and Russia. During the second part, a panel of speakers will discuss the economic, domestic and military dimensions of Russian security policy. There will be plenty of opportunity for Q&A. Coffee will be provided.
Speaker biographies
Sir Rodric Braithwaite had a long and distinguished career in the diplomatic service. From 1998 – 1992 he was ambassador in Moscow, first to the Soviet Union and then Russia. Sir Rodric has published widely and his books include Across the Moscow River (2002), Moscow 1941 (2002), Afgantsy: The Russians in Afghanistan (2010) and Armageddon and Paranoia (2017).
Dr Edwin Bacon is a Reader in Politics at the University of Lincoln. He previously lectured at the University of Birmingham and Birkbeck College, University of London and also worked as a research analyst in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He has published widely in Russian politics and history. His books include The Gulag at War (1994), Brezhnev Reconsidered (2002), Securitising Russia (2006) Contemporary Russia (2014) and Inside Russian Politics (2017).
Dr Richard Connolly is a Senior Lecturer in Political Economy and Director of the Centre for Russian and East European Studies at the University of Birmingham. He has published widely on the Russian political economy, including the defence industry and his most recent book, Russia’s Response to Sanctions, was published in 2018.
Dr Bettina Renz is an Associate Professor in International Relations at the University of Nottingham. She has published widely on Russian security and defence policy and is co-author, with Edwin Bacon, of Securitising Russia (2006). Her most recent book, Russia’s Military Revival, was published in 2018.