In the News: Brian Taylor

An estimated 127,000 Russian troops amass along the Ukraine border, and fears of an invasion are mounting. Professor of Political Science Brian Taylor, says there "probably will be some kind of Russian military activity in Ukraine," but he doesn't expect it to happen this week.

Clearer messaging could mean that "on certain issues, U.S. policy might be tougher than it has been under Trump," says Professor of Political Science Brian Taylor. "But it also might mean that in certain areas, it's easier to see possible so-called 'win-win' solutions that just aren't on the table now because of how dysfunctional the process has become." 

Brian Taylor, professor of political science, claims Russians live in a sort of "electoral authoritarianism," where the election looks democratic on the surface with multiple parties, but "enough is done through the manipulation of the rules and control of the media to make sure the favorite candidate always wins."

"Since Putin cannot remain as president after 2024 under the current rules, he needs to change the rules. This will potentially allow him to remain the dominant political actor even if he leaves the presidency," says Professor of Political Science Brian Taylor.

Brian Taylor, professor and chair of political science, says "he's [Russian president Vladimir Putin] leaving the presidency, but he’s almost certainly going to take some other position and try and stay on."

"The authorities made a calculation back in the summer: that it was better to keep the actual opposition candidates — the people associated with Navalny — off the ballot and take the protests over the summer, than it would be to steal the elections in September and face protests over that," says Professor of Political Science Brian Taylor, about the Russian election.

Brian Taylor, professor and chair of political science, believes the situation between Russia and Ukraine will not change significantly with Zelensky’s election.

"The Code of Putinism" (Oxford University Press, 2018), Professor of Political Science Brian Taylor's new book, is described as "an essential guide for understanding Russian decision making beyond mere cable news talking points."

Brian Taylor, expert on Russian politics, discusses the strengthening relationship between China and Russia,, who are both concerned about US domination of the international system. "The two countries have expanded their economic and political cooperation over the last decade," writes Taylor.

"With only 209 pages of actual text, it is a fraction of the length of many windier, weightier academic books that say more while telling us less," reads a review of Professor of Political Science Brian Taylor's book, "The Code of Putinism."

Brian Taylor, professor of political science, considers key elements of Vladimir Putin's "code" to be the idea of statism, habit of control, and emotion of respect. 

"Now, Russia’s World Cup has come and gone, but stability has given way to stagnation," says Brian Taylor, professor and chair of political science and author of The Code of Putinism.