East Centre Research Seminar: James Rodgers 'The Return of Russia From Yeltsin to Putin, the Story of a Vengeful Kremlin'

Earlham Hall 0.12, 5pm

Book Talk: James Rodgers, The Return of Russia: From Yeltsin to Putin, the Story of a Vengeful Kremlin (Yale University Press 2026)

An incisive and engaging account of post-Soviet Russia—showing how and why the country has come into confrontation with the West
 
The escalation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered the most violent conflict seen on European soil for decades. Millions of people have been displaced, and thousands killed. As the conflict continues, many in the West are seeking to understand why Putin has followed his ambitions to such extreme ends. 
 
James Rodgers examines the development of Russia’s relationship with the West from the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 to the present day. Rodgers argues that, while Putin has long distrusted the West, Western policies have made the situation much worse. He shows that Putin’s political career, with its transformations from supportive ally to implacable critic of the West, has been the defining influence on Russia’s place in the contemporary world.
 
Following the invasion of Ukraine, the West needs to develop a new understanding of Russia’s views and possible actions—rather than simply ignoring them, as has been the case since the end of the Cold War.

Dr James Rodgers is Reader (Associate Professor) in International Journalism). James' particular areas of interest in international journalism are Russia, and the Middle East. Much of his research has a historical focus, seeking to understand the way that history influences narratives and reporting of current events. 

Before entering Journalism academia full time in 2010, James was a journalist for twenty years. He spent fifteen years at the BBC, completing correspondent postings in Moscow, Brussels, and Gaza, as well as numerous other assignments. These included reporting from New York and Washington after 9/11, and covering the war in Iraq in 2003 and 2004.

In addition to his academic work, James still works as a journalist, contributing print, web, and broadcast work to news outlets in Britain and the United States. In the last 12 months, he has contributed to the BBC, NBC Think, Al Jazeera English, History Today, and The New European.