As we step into 2024, a critical year for democracy worldwide, the stage is set for 64 national elections, marking an unprecedented turnout at the polls. The backdrop is a canvas of escalating international tensions, the daunting specter of climate change, and stretched thin inter-governmental organizations like the UN and NATO. In a year of potential transformative elections, with prospects of Kier Starmer as UK’s Prime Minister and scrutiny of Joe Biden’s presidency, Russia presents a contrasting narrative with its upcoming elections from March 15th to 17th.
The recent demise of Alexei Navalny, Putin’s chief rival, casts a foreboding shadow over these elections. As President Putin stands poised for a potential fifth term, the halted advance in Ukraine and the shifting global perception of Russia raise critical questions about what lies ahead.
To dissect these complexities, we’re joined by Ben Dubow, a vanguard in AI and disinformation analysis with a lens on Russia. At the helm of Omelas, and fellow at the Center for European Policy and Analysis, Ben leverages AI to parse open-source intelligence, offering insights that have influenced global media and scholarly discourse.
Our conversation with Ben will traverse the future of the war in Ukraine post-elections, the intricacies of Russian AI in disinformation, the influence of oligarchs on Putin’s decisions, and the intricate web of Putin’s global relationships. We’ll explore the economic, political, and social trajectories under Putin’s looming term, considering the international chessboard of elections, including the US’s, and the potential withdrawal from NATO. Join us as we delve into the implications of Putin’s presidency on the global stage.
Ben’s Dashboard to follow the Russian Elections can be found below
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