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DTSTART:20251017T170000Z
DTEND:20251017T040000Z
SUMMARY:Russian Democrats and the Dream of an "Enlightened Despot:" Lessons from Perestroika
DESCRIPTION:Date: October 17th, 2025



Time: 1:00pm



Location: RB 3224



Event Description:



Based on his recent book Suffering Victory: Soviet Liberals and the Failure of Democracy in Russia, 1987–1993, Guillaume Sauvé examines a pivotal moment in contemporary Russian history when democracy failed to take root. Moving beyond Putin’s rise or Yeltsin’s weak authoritarianism, he explores the political ideals and dilemmas of the intellectual leaders of the perestroika-era democratic movement, showing how their focus on opposing the communist system while avoiding confrontation with the authorities helped concentrate power in the executive and undermine Russia’s nascent democratic institutions.



About the Speaker:



Guillaume Sauvé teaches Russian and Eurasian politics at Université de Montréal and Université du Québec à Montréal. His research bridges intellectual history and comparative politics. He has written on late Soviet and post-Soviet liberalism and conservatism in Russia, and his current project examines public debate in non-democratic settings through petitions in Russia.
LOCATION:3224 Richcraft Hall, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6
URL:
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