‘The battle between democracy and authoritarianism is being waged’

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Describing Russia’s incursion into Ukraine as the beginning of an invasion, President Biden announced new sanctions against Russia and pledged to stand with U.S. allies and NATO.

Political science faculty from Northwestern University are available to media to discuss U.S. diplomatic efforts, international sanctions and Biden’s leadership during the crisis.

Expert on U.S. diplomacy:

Ian Kelly is the ambassador in residence at Northwestern. Previously, he was U.S. ambassador to Georgia, ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, State Department spokesperson, and director of the Office of Russian Affairs in Washington, D.C. He can be reached by contacting Mohamed Abdelfattah at mohamed@northwestern.edu. 

Quote from Ambassador Kelly
"The battle between democracy and authoritarianism is being waged not only in Ukraine, but in all of Russia's periphery. Putin doesn't want his neighbors to become successful democracies. ​For him, preventing neighbors from adopting Western, democratic standards, and forcing them to stay in the Russian orbit, are existential." 

Expert on sanctions:

Karen J. Alter is the Norman Dwight Harris Professor of International Relations in the department of political science and co-director of the Research Group on Global Capitalism and Law at Northwestern. Alter’s research focuses on the construction of global economic rules regulating trade and money, and on the determinants of politically sustainable capitalism. She can be reached at kalter@northwestern.edu or by contacting Stephanie Kulke at 847-491-4819.

Quote from Professor Alter
“Make no mistake, Putin’s actions vis-à-vis Ukraine are a fundamental challenge to the rules based international order, which is an order that China also professes its peaceful commitment to uphold. Putin’s goals are far broader than protecting the two break-away republics, a goal he could have achieved through diplomatic means and without amassing so many troops on Ukraine’s border. Precisely because Putin’s goals are beyond protecting Russian speakers in those two regions, sanctions will have only a limited impact. Sanctions should be used to uphold the rules-based international order and to make sure that conquest does not pay. But they will not be enough. Putin needs to decide that the costs are not a price he is willing to pay.”

Expert on Post-Soviet Russia:

Jordan Gans-Morse is an associate professor of political science at Northwestern where he conducts research on corruption, the rule of law, property rights and political and economic transitions. His primary regional expertise is the former Soviet Union. He is the author of “Property Rights in Post-Soviet Russia: Violence, Corruption, and Demand for Law.” He can be reached at jordan.gans-morse@northwestern.edu or by contacting Stephanie Kulke at 847-491-4819.

Quote from Professor Gans-Morse
“There is no perfect response when facing a nuclear superpower led by an increasingly aggressive strongman who seems bent on disgorging two decades worth of resentment on the Ukrainian nation. But so far, the Biden administration has admirably combined diplomatic efforts, threats of sanctions, and selective declassification of intelligence aimed at countering Russian disinformation campaigns.”