Presentation of Dr. Roxani Krystalli's (University of St Andrews) new book, Good Victims: The Political as a Feminist Question (Oxford University Press, 2024), with comments and discussion from Prof. Leigh Payne (LAC/Sociology) and Dr. Samuel Ritholtz (DPIR).

I will discuss the under-theorized role that the erosion of the rule of law has played in the attempted consolidation of Russian democracy and re-establishment of authoritarianism. As a means of periodization and development of analytical concepts, I will discuss three public legal filings that I have made: (1) a 2011 report on the second conviction of Mikhail Khodorkovsky requested by the Presidential Council of the Russian Federation for Civil Society and Human Rights; (2) a 2020 third-party intervention before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Navalnyy & Ofitserov v.

Alexei Navalny was the leading Russian opposition figure – even when behind bars. One year on from his death, what can we say about the impact he, his team, and his movement made on Russian politics? Is his country further away than ever from the “Wonderful Russia of the Future”? And what do his own memoirs reveal?

Special panel marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Dame Rachel de Souza (Children's Commissioner for England); Oleksandra Romantsova (Executive Director of the Centre for Civil Liberties in Ukraine and Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient); ⁠⁠Inna Hryhorovych, MBE (Headteacher of St Mary’s Ukrainian School); Tetyana Nesterchuk (Barrister and Arbitrator at Fountain Court Chambers); ⁠Oksana Lebedeva (Founder of Gen.Ukrainian). Moderator: Kseniia Iaremych (Ambassador for Gen.Ukrainian). Co-hosted with Oxford University Ukrainian Society.

State capture by wealthy elites is a widespread phenomenon in developing democracies, yet the mechanisms through which it works and the impact it has on political and policy outcomes remain poorly understood. In this research, I develop a network-based approach to studying captured legislatures and argue that, in the context of a competitive political environment and weak rule of law, oligarchs defend their wealth by promoting as members of parliament individuals who are linked to them via interpersonal ties.

Uzbekistan's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative is framed through agential narratives of resistance, highlighting historical conflicts and cautious economic relations with China. I delve into the long history of Sino-Uzbekistani relations, particularly pre-colonial times, to present a perspective beyond the Eurocentric view that sees modern Central Asia as a creation of the Russian Empire and the USSR. I add depth to the postcolonial aspect of Uzbekistan's relations with Russia by exploring local narratives about China's historical colonial role in the region.

Why do rentier states seek out hosting rights for major international events? This talk investigates this question through a qualitative case study of mega-events programs in Azerbaijan. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, hydrocarbon exports have formed the backbone of the country’s economy and the main source of rents for ruling elites.