Publication

This brief rejects the idea that external observers should view Russia’s intelligence services as an invincible machine that wields disproportionate power within the state. In fact, they're as internally divided, distracted by bureaucratic turf wars, and capable of producing poor quality intelligence as their Western counterparts. To explore and support this basic theme, the brief's author 1) characterizes who makes up Russia’s intelligence community; 2) traces the competition that exists between the community's members; 3) describes the interactions and degree of control Vladimir Putin exerts over his intelligence outlets; and 4) gauges the influence the latter have over Russia's political processes, think thanks and media. The author then closes his analysis by identifying five ways that European governments can moderate the Russian agencies’ actions within their own countries.