Russia Expert to Talk on Putin’s Geopolitics and Economic Policy

In her lecture "Putin and Russia in Historical Perspective" Prof. Padma Desai will address Putin’s geopolitical manoeuvring in the region and the state of the Russian economy. With this renowned guest, the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) continues its newly established Distinguished Speaker Lecture Series, which brings together distinguished researchers and practitioners to address key global developments.

On 26 June 2015 at 5 p.m. at the GIGA Prof. Desai will share her expertise with the Hamburg public.

Prof. Desai is a development economist and Director of the Center for Transition Economies at Columbia University. She belongs to the leading experts on Russia and crises of the international financial system. Her book Conversations on Russia: Reforms from Yeltsin to Putin is a standard reference in Russian Studies.

"In the face of the dramatic changes that we are witnessing in the region we need a better understanding of Russia," says GIGA President Prof. Amrita Narlikar. "Having an expert of Prof. Desai’s calibre speak on such issues is at the core of what the lecture series will stand for. Her analysis will reveal new insights into the underlying mind-set and historical background of Putin’s strategies."

The GIGA Distinguished Speaker Lecture Series aims to bring the best and the brightest minds in academia and policy from all over the world to Hamburg to stimulate public exchange on global developments. The inaugural lecture will be delivered by Prof. Jagdish N. Bhagwati on "Trade Issues Today: WTO, Transatlantic and Transpacific Agreements" on 25 June 2015 at the Hamburg City Hall.

Additional information: Padma Desai: www.columbia.edu GIGA website: www.giga-hamburg.de