"People’s Resilience as Russia’s Primary National Resource" w/ Buffett Institute

Join the Roberta Buffett Institute and the Weinberg College Center for Global Studies’ Roberta Buffett International Studies Program for a lunchtime lecture by Maria Lipman, 2026 Roberta Buffett Visiting Professor of International Studies, followed by moderated discussion with Ian Hurd, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Roberta Buffett International Studies Program. Lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m.

Since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian public opinion polls have consistently shown overwhelming support for the “special military operation.” Regardless of how these surveys are interpreted, the Russian perception of the war is not that of jingoism or belligerence. Rather, Lipman will argue that the public at large demonstrates a longstanding capacity to adapt to the realities of a militarized economy and declining living standards. Vlast’—the term commonly used in Russia to denote the power of the central government—has historically been perceived as an insurmountable force that renders resistance futile. For many Russians, the rational strategy appears to be to relinquish responsibility for major national decisions to the leader while carving out a small space for oneself in the hope that vlast’ will not interfere. This perception appears to suit the Kremlin’s leadership, whose primary concern over the past quarter century has been that the population not become an obstacle to policymaking. In response to the Kremlin’s tactic of ensuring the population’s loyalty while keeping the people at arm’s length, Lipman will examine why Russia’s public supports the war yet shows reluctance to participate in the Russian military effort, a pattern that she suggests helps explain why the government has refrained from declaring mass mobilization.

This event is hosted by the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs. We from the Geopolitical Forum can find each other and hang out after the event wraps up.

Please register for free at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/roberta-buffett-visiting-professor-lecture-by-maria-lipman-tickets-1986572581067?aff=PlanItPurple. Act sooner rather than later, while there are still seats left.

Please also RSVP here to help us find one another at the event.