Thinking Ahead - Russia Beyond 2024

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Romania had an online discussion on a study elaborated by FES Regional Office for Cooperation and Peace in Europe (FES-ROCPE) in cooperation with the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) Berlin: "Thinking Ahead: Russia beyond 2024" on November, 12th 2020.

In July 2020, Vladimir Putin signed into law the amended Constitution of the Russian Federation, which will allow him to stay in power beyond 2024. Far from being outdated by this development in Russian politics, the four scenarios presented in the study are meant to provide a basis for forward-looking discussion. Concerned decision makers, experts, and observers should already start thinking today about Russia’s path and development in the years to come.

The advantage of drafting scenarios over thinking about a grand strategy is that scenarios might provide more clarity to decision makers and experts about a subject in this case, Russia's alternatives and the impact of those alternatives. The aim is to provide an impetus to continue, or seriously begin, a discussion of domestic and foreign policy in and vis-à-vis Russia.