BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk// X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:"\;Rare elements\, untraceable toxins"\;: Where is today's Russian foreign policy? - Demetrius Floudas\, Hughes Hall\, University of Cambridge DTSTART:20180611T163000Z DTEND:20180611T190000Z UID:TALK106495@talks.cam.ac.uk CONTACT:D. A. Floudas DESCRIPTION:*Monday 11 June 2018\, 5:30 for 5:45 pm*\n\n*Pavillion Room\, Hughes Hall\, University of Cambridge*\n\n\nRussia and its foreign policy have dominated headlines over the previous year\, though not necessarily f or what the West would perceive as noble reasons. In spite of a widely pre dicted thaw to have followed the US elections\, the relationship between t he Kremlin and the West has arguably reached a post-Soviet nadir\, with no immediate sign of improvement in sight. \n\nThrough judicious planning\, audacious prosecution and substantial fortuity\, Russia has managed to car ve out an important niche for itself as an indispensible player in a numbe r of priority global flashpoints: North Korea\, Iran\, Ukraine\, the Arcti c\, the Balkans etc. At the same time\, Moscow has shrewdly outmanoeuvred every other power to enthrone itself as the incontestable kingmaker of th e Syrian conflict. In this way\, the Russian Federation has significantly expanded its international relations arsenal\, but a sharp contrast remai ns between the country’s foreign policy ambitions and the attitudes of t he western world towards these.\n\nDeconstructing some of the facts behind the headlines\, Demetrius A. Floudas\, Senior Associate of Hughes Hall\, furnishes a fascinating insight into this topical issue and attempts to pr esent an analysis of the following parameters:\n\n• Moscow apparently mi litates against the existing global order\, but what are the alternatives it seeks?\n\n• Does Russian foreign policy exhibit clear lines of cohere nt strategy or it simply operates on a spoiler basis by craftily exploitin g circumstances as they arise?\n\n• To what extent is a covert cyber-war being fought\, from the US election interference allegations and beyond?\ n\n• Has Great Britain served as a proving ground for clandestine black- ops against renegade operatives\, utilising signature radiological and bio chemical agents?\n\n• How did the Kremlin manage to become the key-holde r of the crisis in Syria and what does this portent for the potential outc omes of the civil war?\n\n• Can the UK afford to maintain an open front with Russia in the post-Brexit era?\n\n• What are the options of the Wes t to respond? Would de-escalation work as appeasement or a robust response is the optimal way to redress the balance?\n\n• Will Russia prove a bon a-fide geopolitical adversary\, a paper tiger or a latent partner?\n\n• What are the chances that the current stand-off over Ukraine may escalate into a military conflict?\n\nDoors open at 5.30 pm\nTalk at 5.45 pm\, foll owed by a drinks reception at 7.00 pm. \nA drinks reception shall follow t he seminar.\n________________________________________\n\n\n\n*About the sp eaker:*\n\n_Demetrius A. Floudas is a Senior Associate of Hughes Hall\, a Fellow of the Hellenic Institute of Foreign and International Law and an A djunct Professor at the Law Faculty of Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal Univer sity in Russia. He worked for a number of years in Moscow\, serving inter alia as Head of the EU project for the Russian Accession to WTO ._\n\n_In addition\, Demetrius has provided commentary on matters of Foreign Affair s & International Relations to a number of international think-tanks\, wit h his views frequently appearing on the media worldwide (BBC\, Voice of Am erica\, Financial Times\, Daily Telegraph\, Washington Post\, Vedomosti\, RIA-Novosti\, Russia Today\, RBK TV and others)._\n\n_He is the author of a policy paper “Russian International Affairs and Athens’ rational cho ices” published as part of a foreign policy compendium by one of Greece ’s main opposition parties (forthcoming)._\n\n\n\n\n*The lecture will be followed by refreshments*\n\n*This talk is open to all members of the Uni versity\, upon prior registration:*\n\n%{color:red}*PLEASE REGISTER THROUG H THE FOLLOWING LINK ONLY:*%\n\n"D. A. Floudas: Russian Foreign Policy\, Hughes Hall\, Registration module":https://11junefloudas.eventbrite.co.uk /\n\n\n\n\n_Additional Information may be obtained by writing to:_\n\n _Th e Programmes Manager\, Hughes Hall_\n\n_University of Cambridge\, Cambrid ge CB1 2EW_\n\n_Email: programmes.manager@hughes.cam.ac.uk_\n\n_Tel: +44 ( 0) 1223 746367_\n\n\n\n\n\n. LOCATION:Pavillion Room\, Hughes Hall\, University of Cambridge END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR