Disorder: The War and Russia’s Economic Statecraft

CSDS POLICY BRIEF • 13/2023

By J. Alexander Thew, Daniel Fiott, Frank Finelli and Mickey P. Strasser

02.05.2023

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the West has looked to support Kyiv and impose crushing economic measures on the Russian economy. Sanctions and divestment have punctured a hole in Russia’s war fighting machine, but there are also fears that the Kremlin has been able to use a form of economic statecraft to weather the storm. If Ukraine is to succeed in defeating Russia, and if the West is serious about ensuring that Russia’s ability to wage future war is severely dented, then a greater focus on Russia’s economic statecraft is required. Yet, as this Policy Brief argues, Russia has used an effective suite of tools to ensure that the Russian economy is relatively protected from the West. What is more, the Policy Brief argues that the growing vassalisation of Russia to Chinese power is likely to alter the global order that has prevailed for decades.

CSDS Policy brief_2313 Disorder.pdf (391.52 KB)

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