Sabine Fisher: German Zeitenwende and Russian Chauvinist Threat

The Zeitenwende marked a turning point in Russian-German relations, catalysed by the failure of a previous German policy centred on enhanced trade relations with Russia and the import of inexpensive energy resources to fuel the German economy. Two and a half years after Russia’s re-invasion of Ukraine, it is time to evaluate the impact of this shift on German-Russian relations and German domestic policy. Discussing the future perspectives and irreversibility of such profound policy shifts is also crucial. How should we deal with chauvinist Russia, which is defined - as Sabine Fischer argues - by imperial nationalism, sexism and autocracy? Will Germany try to push Ukraine toward a precarious peace agreement with chauvinist Russia? Could economic incentives lead to a return to pre-war business as usual to revitalise the German economy through cheap Russian energy imports? To what extent is German society willing to bear the costs of continued support for Ukraine?  

Speakers:

These and other pressing questions will be addressed by Sabine Fischer, a prominent expert on the post-Soviet space from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, SWP). In her research, Dr. Fischer focuses on Russia's domestic and foreign policy, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and EU-Russia relations. Her recent book ‘Die chauvinistische Bedrohung: Russlands Kriege und Europas Antworten’ (The chauvinist threat Russia's Wars and Europe's Responses) published in 2023, provides a new perspective on Russia's power and expansion policies. It explains connections between aggressive nationalism, misogynistic chauvinism, and autocracy within Russia and offers insights on how Europe should respond to the Russian approach to safeguard its values and security. 

Discussant: Vladimír Handl, Institute of International Studies, Charles University

Chair: Zuzana Lizcová, Institute of International Studies, Charles University

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