Since 2013 the Valdai Discussion Club has been at the forefront of conceptualizing and discussing Russia’s turn to the East, becoming in 2015 the leading think tank on international cooperation in the Eurasian space. Each year the Valdai Club holds a series of events as part of this program, including the Asian Regional Conference, the Russian-Chinese Conference, and the Russia-Kazakhstan Expert Forum, which all bring together prominent experts from across the region. The Valdai Club is expected to contribute to preparations for the business program of the Eastern Economic Forum. In addition, the program provides for conducting in-depth analysis in the form of regular reports and papers. In 2019, the program will focus on the development of the Comprehensive Eurasian Partnership and Eurasian integration, strategic prospects for strengthening Russia’s positions in Asia, as well as devising practical recommendations to promote deeper economic and political cooperation in the region.
The Middle East remains one of the most conflict-ridden regions in the world, although 2019 could be marked by a gradual decline in the level of tension with the war in Syria drawing to an end, appeasement in the Yemen conflict, and the EU’s willingness to promote trade and economic ties with Iran despite US sanctions. And despite the persisting strategic competition in the region, these new trends suggest that regional forces could compete through non-military means. Could economic cooperation become a factor of stability that facilitates the settlement of the problems the Middle East is facing? Will there be any significant progress in terms of how the North-South international transportation corridor operates? What are the prospects for post-war Syria? The program focuses on analyzing Russia’s engagement in this new environment and imagining a tentative peace in the Middle East.
The West, now facing a stage of decay or even the prospect of inevitable demise, has become an essential element in today’s narrative. It is conventionally believed that the main threats for the Western world lie within itself, including its very achievements and fundamental principles such as rationality and rational impartiality. However, the rise of the non-West, armed with Western political philosophy, has recently emerged as an increasingly important factor in the decline of the West. The unity of the Western world is also being called into question. How stable are the ties that bind the United States and its allies? How durable are their institutions? How will they change amid new political threats? What will happen to Western values considering the unprecedented demographic and sociocultural changes taking place within Western societies? Finally, the primary question today is that of the place and role for the West in Russia’s future and identity.
Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club; Director of Programmes at the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC)
He is responsible for the intellectual performance of RIAC, managing its programmes and projects. His personal background at RIAC includes working with Russian and foreign diplomats, governmental officials, experts, businessmen and NGO-leaders regarding Russia’s foreign policy and public diplomacy. Since 2015 he also heads Euro-Atlantic Security programme at the Valdai Discussion Club.
Before joining RIAC, Ivan Timofeev was the Head of Analytical Monitoring Centre and Associate Professor at MGIMO University (2009–2011). He was awarded a doctoral degree in Political Science at MGIMO (2006).
Ivan Timofeev is an author and co-author of more than 70 publications, issued in Russian and foreign academic press. He is a member of editorial board at the Comparative Politics. He was elected as a Professor of the Academy for Military Science (2013).
Programme Director at the Valdai Discussion Club, Member of the Government Expert Council
Yaroslav Lissovolik worked in the International Monetary Fund, in Washington, where he was Advisor to the Executive Director for the Russian Federation (2001–2004). In 2004 he joined Deutsche Bank as Chief Economist and became Head of Company Research in Russia in 2009, and then a member of the Management Board of Deutsche Bank in Russia in 2011. In 2015-2018 Yaroslav Lissovolik was Chief Economist and subsequently Managing Director of Research and Member of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). Since 2018 he has been Senior Managing Director — Head of Research at Sberbank Investment Research (CIB).
Besides, Yaroslav Lissovolik is a member of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy (CFDP), Bretton Woods Committee and the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). In 2012 Yaroslav Lissovolik became a member of the Government Expert Council.
He has published books on the Russia's entry to the WTO and Russia's integration into the world economy, as well as numerous articles and papers on economic and policy issues.
International conflicts in today’s world are not only conflicts of interests, but also conflicts of values resulting from the divisions that are underpinned by ideas, religion, ethnicity and even history. Values are becoming a factor in social mobilization and manipulation. Attempts to shield one’s own identity from strangers or foes only make these collisions worse and compromise even harder to achieve. Historical memory is becoming increasingly important as a factor in the conflicts unfolding in today’s world and as a tool used by states in the pursuit of their interests.
Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club; Director of Programmes at the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC)
He is responsible for the intellectual performance of RIAC, managing its programmes and projects. His personal background at RIAC includes working with Russian and foreign diplomats, governmental officials, experts, businessmen and NGO-leaders regarding Russia’s foreign policy and public diplomacy. Since 2015 he also heads Euro-Atlantic Security programme at the Valdai Discussion Club.
Before joining RIAC, Ivan Timofeev was the Head of Analytical Monitoring Centre and Associate Professor at MGIMO University (2009–2011). He was awarded a doctoral degree in Political Science at MGIMO (2006).
Ivan Timofeev is an author and co-author of more than 70 publications, issued in Russian and foreign academic press. He is a member of editorial board at the Comparative Politics. He was elected as a Professor of the Academy for Military Science (2013).
Programme Director at the Valdai Discussion Club, Member of the Government Expert Council
Yaroslav Lissovolik worked in the International Monetary Fund, in Washington, where he was Advisor to the Executive Director for the Russian Federation (2001–2004). In 2004 he joined Deutsche Bank as Chief Economist and became Head of Company Research in Russia in 2009, and then a member of the Management Board of Deutsche Bank in Russia in 2011. In 2015-2018 Yaroslav Lissovolik was Chief Economist and subsequently Managing Director of Research and Member of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). Since 2018 he has been Senior Managing Director — Head of Research at Sberbank Investment Research (CIB).
Besides, Yaroslav Lissovolik is a member of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy (CFDP), Bretton Woods Committee and the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). In 2012 Yaroslav Lissovolik became a member of the Government Expert Council.
He has published books on the Russia's entry to the WTO and Russia's integration into the world economy, as well as numerous articles and papers on economic and policy issues.
Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club; Director of Programmes at the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC)
He is responsible for the intellectual performance of RIAC, managing its programmes and projects. His personal background at RIAC includes working with Russian and foreign diplomats, governmental officials, experts, businessmen and NGO-leaders regarding Russia’s foreign policy and public diplomacy. Since 2015 he also heads Euro-Atlantic Security programme at the Valdai Discussion Club.
Before joining RIAC, Ivan Timofeev was the Head of Analytical Monitoring Centre and Associate Professor at MGIMO University (2009–2011). He was awarded a doctoral degree in Political Science at MGIMO (2006).
Ivan Timofeev is an author and co-author of more than 70 publications, issued in Russian and foreign academic press. He is a member of editorial board at the Comparative Politics. He was elected as a Professor of the Academy for Military Science (2013).
Deputy Director at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow
Dmitry Suslov conducts research on various issues of international relations, including US foreign and domestic policy and Russia-US relations, Russian foreign policy, Russia-EU relations. He regularly consults the Russian government institutions and business enterprises on these and other issues. He is also a Senior lecturer at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs of the National Research University Higher School of Economics since 2006, as well as Deputy Director for Research at the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy since 2004. Dmitry Suslov has co-authored several books (incl. The U.S. Policy in Asia Pacific (2014), Non-Military Instruments of the Russian Foreign Policy: Regional and Global Mechanisms (2012); Russia: a Strategy for the New World (2011); Russia vs. Europe. Confrontation or Alliance? (2009); Russia and the World. A New Epoch (2008); The World Politics (2008); The World Around Russia: 2017 (2007). At the Higher School of Economics (School of World Economy and International Affairs) he teaches courses on the US Domestic and Foreign Policy, Introduction to International Relations, Global Governance, US-Russia Relations, and Russia-EU Relations.
Programme Director at the Valdai Discussion Club, Member of the Government Expert Council
Yaroslav Lissovolik worked in the International Monetary Fund, in Washington, where he was Advisor to the Executive Director for the Russian Federation (2001–2004). In 2004 he joined Deutsche Bank as Chief Economist and became Head of Company Research in Russia in 2009, and then a member of the Management Board of Deutsche Bank in Russia in 2011. In 2015-2018 Yaroslav Lissovolik was Chief Economist and subsequently Managing Director of Research and Member of the Management Board at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). Since 2018 he has been Senior Managing Director — Head of Research at Sberbank Investment Research (CIB).
Besides, Yaroslav Lissovolik is a member of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy (CFDP), Bretton Woods Committee and the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). In 2012 Yaroslav Lissovolik became a member of the Government Expert Council.
He has published books on the Russia's entry to the WTO and Russia's integration into the world economy, as well as numerous articles and papers on economic and policy issues.
Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club; Director of Programmes at the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC)
He is responsible for the intellectual performance of RIAC, managing its programmes and projects. His personal background at RIAC includes working with Russian and foreign diplomats, governmental officials, experts, businessmen and NGO-leaders regarding Russia’s foreign policy and public diplomacy. Since 2015 he also heads Euro-Atlantic Security programme at the Valdai Discussion Club.
Before joining RIAC, Ivan Timofeev was the Head of Analytical Monitoring Centre and Associate Professor at MGIMO University (2009–2011). He was awarded a doctoral degree in Political Science at MGIMO (2006).
Ivan Timofeev is an author and co-author of more than 70 publications, issued in Russian and foreign academic press. He is a member of editorial board at the Comparative Politics. He was elected as a Professor of the Academy for Military Science (2013).
Deputy Director at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow
Dmitry Suslov conducts research on various issues of international relations, including US foreign and domestic policy and Russia-US relations, Russian foreign policy, Russia-EU relations. He regularly consults the Russian government institutions and business enterprises on these and other issues. He is also a Senior lecturer at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs of the National Research University Higher School of Economics since 2006, as well as Deputy Director for Research at the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy since 2004. Dmitry Suslov has co-authored several books (incl. The U.S. Policy in Asia Pacific (2014), Non-Military Instruments of the Russian Foreign Policy: Regional and Global Mechanisms (2012); Russia: a Strategy for the New World (2011); Russia vs. Europe. Confrontation or Alliance? (2009); Russia and the World. A New Epoch (2008); The World Politics (2008); The World Around Russia: 2017 (2007). At the Higher School of Economics (School of World Economy and International Affairs) he teaches courses on the US Domestic and Foreign Policy, Introduction to International Relations, Global Governance, US-Russia Relations, and Russia-EU Relations.
Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club; Director of Programmes at the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC)
He is responsible for the intellectual performance of RIAC, managing its programmes and projects. His personal background at RIAC includes working with Russian and foreign diplomats, governmental officials, experts, businessmen and NGO-leaders regarding Russia’s foreign policy and public diplomacy. Since 2015 he also heads Euro-Atlantic Security programme at the Valdai Discussion Club.
Before joining RIAC, Ivan Timofeev was the Head of Analytical Monitoring Centre and Associate Professor at MGIMO University (2009–2011). He was awarded a doctoral degree in Political Science at MGIMO (2006).
Ivan Timofeev is an author and co-author of more than 70 publications, issued in Russian and foreign academic press. He is a member of editorial board at the Comparative Politics. He was elected as a Professor of the Academy for Military Science (2013).
Deputy Director at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow
Dmitry Suslov conducts research on various issues of international relations, including US foreign and domestic policy and Russia-US relations, Russian foreign policy, Russia-EU relations. He regularly consults the Russian government institutions and business enterprises on these and other issues. He is also a Senior lecturer at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs of the National Research University Higher School of Economics since 2006, as well as Deputy Director for Research at the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy since 2004. Dmitry Suslov has co-authored several books (incl. The U.S. Policy in Asia Pacific (2014), Non-Military Instruments of the Russian Foreign Policy: Regional and Global Mechanisms (2012); Russia: a Strategy for the New World (2011); Russia vs. Europe. Confrontation or Alliance? (2009); Russia and the World. A New Epoch (2008); The World Politics (2008); The World Around Russia: 2017 (2007). At the Higher School of Economics (School of World Economy and International Affairs) he teaches courses on the US Domestic and Foreign Policy, Introduction to International Relations, Global Governance, US-Russia Relations, and Russia-EU Relations.
