Faculty
Professor Fyodor Lukyanov
Fyodor Lukyanov is a research professor at the Higher School of Economics. He is also Chairman of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy, the oldest Russian NGO providing expertise in the foreign policy field, and editor-in-chief of the Russia in Global Affairs journal published in Russian and English with participation from Foreign Affairs. As head of Russia in Global Affairs since its founding in 2002, he has greatly contributed to making this journal Russia’s most authoritative source of expert opinion on global development issues. He is also research director at the International Valdai discussion club, and a member of the presidium of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). Professor Lukyanov has also worked as a correspondent, commentator and editor for numerous Russian printed and electronic media. Now, he is one of the most known commentators of Russian foreign policy worldwide.
Dr Sergei Shein
Sergei Shein is a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics. His research interests moved from the problems of adaption of conservatism to changing internal and external institutional conditions to the interaction between the traditional mainstream and right-wing populist parties (RPPs). These issues are important not only for the future EU’s configuration, but also for the prospects of the EU as a global actor. In this context, he currently focuses on identification of the foreign policy impulses of RPPs, based on his previous research on the conceptual essence of populism and experience in analysing European politics. His current research project is at the intersection of comparative politics and European studies. Dr Shein received his PhD from the Institute of Europe at the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Students
Julia Belous
Julia Belous is a graduate student at the Higher School of Economics and Analyst at the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies, also at the HSE. Since January 2020 she has been a member of the Group of Young Academic Professionals at the HSE. In 2021, she won a major research competition for young researchers announced by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research by proposing a project about the political development of modern Spain. Her current research interests are the political and institutional development of the European Union, public and humanitarian diplomacy, and decentralisation processes among the EU countries.
Sabina Davronova
Sabina Davronova is a graduate student at the Higher School of Economics, on the ‘Combined Master’s-PhD track’ currently pursuing a master’s degree in European studies. Her master’s thesis explores the ‘new generation’ of free trade agreements. She focuses on how major European stakeholders forge consensus between one another and present their common position to trade partners, and will continue developing this topic during her PhD research. Sabina is originally from Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and moved to Moscow in 2017 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in international relations at the HSE. It was during the course of her undergraduate studies that Sabina became interested in the European integration project, which impressed her with its scale, depth, elaborateness and true nobleness built-in its objectives.
Artemiy Dzhafarov
Artemiy Dzhafarov is a graduate student at the Higher School of Economics, currently studying for a master’s degree in European and Asian Studies. His research interests are primarily located in the politics of the British Isles, not only in the United Kingdom but also in the Republic of Ireland, with a particular focus on nationalism and separatism, primarily Celtic nationalism in Northern Ireland, on which he has already published widely. Artemiy is also interested in European integration - and believes that the experience of the European Union is unique and quite positive, - as well as constructivist approaches to history and politics, and the ways in which discourse and identities shape the political and social aspects of political processes. Artemiy graduated with a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the HSE. He also regularly gives classes in international relations for high-school students, contribute notes and articles, and organises and participate in live-action role-playing games, where he makes some practical use of political models and theories.
Ekaterina Konovalova
Ekaterina Konovalova is a graduate student at the Higher School of Economics, currently studying for a master’s degree in International Relations, with a focus on European Studies. Her research interests are related to energy policy and political leadership in the European Union. Ekaterina completed a bachelor’s degree, also in International Relations, at the HSE. During the course of her studies, she was awarded a grant from the President of the Russian Federation for scientific achievements in International Relations. She was also the winner of an academic competition in International Relations and World Economy at the HSE and has studied European Integration at the Sciences Po Summer School in Paris. Ekaterina speaks four foreign languages - English, German, French, and Arabic.
Lolita Krasikova
Lolita Krasikova is a graduate student at the Higher School of Economics, currently studying for a master’s degree in European and Asian Studies. Her research focuses on Euroscepticism in the European Union, particularly in France and Italy, with her wider research interests including relations between the European Union, the United States, and Russia, and the development of post-Soviet space, especially during the Transnistrian conflict. Lolita is also a research assistant at the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies and a guest lecturer of international relations theory at the HSE. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the HSE.
Alexandra Malinina
Alexandra Malinina is a graduate student at the Higher School of Economics, currently studying for a master’s degree in International Relations, with a focus on European Studies. Her research interests include the history of the UK-US ‘special relationship’, the transformation of the British political elite, and European integration. Alexandra is also an active participant in the Youth Association for the Greater Europe (YAGE) which aims to unite young people from all over the continent.
Vladislav Semenov
Vladislav Semenov is a graduate student at the Higher School of Economics, currently studying for a master’s degree in International Relations, with a focus on European Studies. His research interests include sustainable development, foreign aid (to which he devoted his Master’s thesis), and conflict studies, largely focusing on Europe and the US. He is interested more widely in Arctic Studies, African studies, and Archaeology, and advocates for an interdisciplinary approach within International Relations. Vladislav completed a bachelor’s degree in History. He has participated in two exchange programs during his studies – at University College Dublin and at Ca’ Foscari University, Venice.