U-M experts available to discuss nationwide protests in Russia

December 14, 2011
Contact:
  • umichnews@umich.edu

ANN ARBOR—University of Michigan experts are available to discuss the nationwide protests in Russia following the fraud-tainted elections for Parliament.

They include:

Anna Grzymala-Busse is a professor of political science and the director of U-M’s Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia, Her principal interests include political parties and political competition, state development and transformation, and post-communist politics. She has written about party competition and the paradoxical comeback of communist successor parties. She can be reached at (+1) 734-764-0351 or abusse@umich.edu.

Olga Maiorova is an associate professor of Slavic languages and literature and the director of U-M’s Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies. She can discuss Russian culture, nationalism, public opinion and democratic institutions. Maiorova can be reached at (+1) 734-764-0351 or maiorova@umich.edu. More information about Maiorova: http://www.ii.umich.edu/crees/aboutus/people/facultyassociates/ci.maiorovaolga_ci.detail

William Zimmerman, a professor emeritus in political science, can discuss the way Russia was, is or may be in the future a “normal” country. His research also focuses on the links between attitudes to markets, democracy and foreign policy in Russia. He can be reached at (+1) 734-763-1348 or wzim@umich.edu. More about Zimmerman: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/polisci/people/faculty/ci.zimmermanwilliam_ci.detail

Melvyn Levitsky, a retired career minister in the U.S. Foreign Service and professor of international policy and practice at U-M’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. During his 35-year career as a U.S. diplomat, Levitsky served as officer-in-charge of U.S.-Soviet bilateral relations. He was also a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. He can be reached at (+1) 734-615-4262 or levitsky@umich.edu. More about Levitsky: http://fordschool.umich.edu/faculty/Melvyn_Levitsky