Ep. 48: Ambassador Michael McFaul

“Putin wants you to believe that he is a return to Russian traditions and to the glory days when Russia was a revered, respected power in the international system.”

Former United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation Michael McFaul comes on Talking Beats to talk all things Russia and all things Putin. One of the biggest issues that he and Daniel talk about is the role of Putin in Russian history— where does he fit in? What is he trying to take Russia forward--or back-- to? Over the past fifteen years, Putin has become more emboldened and more brazen with his actions— what will be next? One of the most seasoned Russia experts in the West, Ambassador McFaul has a unique insider perspective and enormous expertise.

Michael McFaul is the Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies in Political Science, Director and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and the Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, all at Stanford University. He is also an analyst for NBC News and a contributing columnist to The Washington Post. McFaul served for five years in the Obama administration, first as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House (2009-2012), and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012-2014). He has authored several books, most recently the New York Times bestseller,  “From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia.”  Earlier books include Advancing Democracy Abroad: Why We Should, How We Can; Transitions To Democracy: A Comparative Perspective  (eds. with Kathryn Stoner); Power and Purpose: American Policy toward Russia after the Cold War (with James Goldgeier); and Russia’s Unfinished Revolution: Political Change from Gorbachev to Putin. His current research interests include American foreign policy, great power relations between China, Russia, and the United States, and the relationship between democracy and development.Prof. McFaul was born and raised in Montana. He received his B.A. in International Relations and Slavic Languages and his M.A. in Soviet and East European Studies from Stanford University in 1986. As a Rhodes Scholar, he completed his D. Phil. in International Relations at Oxford University in 1991.

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