John Besemeres is a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for European Studies, ANU. His book A Difficult Neighbourhood was published by ANU Press in late 2016.
International
Ukraine’s four-cornered contest draws to a close
John Besemeres
27 March 2019
The post-Soviet country might be more chaotic than some of its neighbours, but at least its election results aren’t clear before the votes are in
International
Has the West called Putin’s bluff?
John Besemeres
4 April 2018
The Russian president faces uncharacteristically united international opposition at the beginning of a potentially unstable final term in office
International
Putin and Trump: anatomy of a bromance
John Besemeres
11 February 2018
A compromising relationship continues to define the US presidency
International
Ukraine, out of sight
John Besemeres
21 December 2015
Hit by low energy prices and Western sanctions, Vladimir Putin has been exerting less obvious pressure in Ukraine, writes John Besemeres
International
Making nice and making enemies
John Besemeres
10 December 2015
Vladimir Putin’s actions in the Middle East reflect his view that all relationships are zero-sum games, writes John Besemeres
Books & arts
Bling and propaganda in an ethics-free zone
John Besemeres
15 June 2015
Books | The excesses of Vladimir Putin’s first eight years as president are vividly brought to life by journalist Peter Pomerantsev, writes John Besemeres
International
Peace in our time
John Besemeres
23 March 2015
Superficially, the Minsk Two agreement promises much. But, asks John Besemeres, can its European signatories counter Vladimir Putin’s long-run campaign to…
International
Putin’s westpolitik: back to the USSR
John Besemeres
17 December 2014
The Russian president wants to restore the old empire. John Besemeres looks at the former Soviet republics he is pressuring to see the world his way
International
Putin’s parallel universe
John Besemeres
20 November 2014
The Russian president’s broad support at home reflects a radically different perception of events since the fall of the Berlin Wall, writes John Besemeres
International
Russian disinformation and Western misconceptions
John Besemeres
23 September 2014
Although the Russian invasion of Ukraine is continuing, writes John Besemeres, many Western observers are surprisingly coy about naming it for what it is. Meanwhile,…
International
Ukraine: time to cut a deal?
John Besemeres
30 May 2014
Western coverage of Ukraine has suffered from deep misconceptions, writes John Besemeres. Meanwhile, Moscow might be looking for a compromise
International
The Slavonic Autocrats’ Club
John Besemeres
26 September 2012
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus are increasingly heading in the same direction – away from Europe. In the second of two articles, John Besemeres looks at relations…
International
Putin’s Ceausescu moment
John Besemeres
9 December 2011
The warning signs rose to a new pitch during the election campaign, writes John Besemeres, and now Vladimir Putin will be looking at ways to re-tighten his grip
Heading west, heading east: impressions from Warsaw and Moscow
John Besemeres
11 August 2011
In Poland and Russia John Besemeres found two countries heading in quite different directions
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