What’s next for Russia and the world?

With a new era of global power competition shaping international affairs, it has never been more important to have a sophisticated interpretation of Russia's role.

What motivates the Russian leadership and how do they see the world? What are their assumptions about the future and how do they seek to position Russia for this competition?

Featured work

New Politics of Russia

How can we interpret change in Russia? This illuminating book explains how and why Russia's relations with the west have deteriorated to the point of initiating a new era of 'great power competition'. An updated version of the bestselling 2016 edition, it explores the decline in relations since the early 2000s, taking in the war in Syria and the 2022 escalation in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and examines what change looks like.

Read book

Strategic Foresight and the War in Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine shows the essential value of looking ahead to medium-term and long-term strategic trends.

Read full article

Kennan Cable No. 83: Moscow’s Maritime Strategy: Establishing Russia as a Leading Seafaring State

Russia is becoming a maritime nation. As Moscow has sought to position Russia as a global power in a “post-West” world,[1] it has worked to develop the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and increase trade with states across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), in the Gulf, the Indian Ocean, and in the Pacific.

Read full article

Geopolitical consultancy service

For over 20 years, Andrew Monaghan has provided professional strategic and geopolitical advice to governments and private sector clients. His particular focus is on assessing Russian strategy-making and foresight, and providing answers to key questions and anticipating developments and potential outcomes.

Andrew tends to work with organisations in three ways

Challenge thinking

Challenge conventional thinking – breakdown unhelpful tropes about dealing with Russia and understand how entrenched and outdated attitudes are negatively affecting the West’s strategy and where your organisation falls short in its current approach.

Encourage questions and discussions through:

  • Presentations

  • Workshops

1st dimension

Shift mindsets

Begin to understand in detail how the components of Russia’s system generate its ambitions on the global stage. 

Facilitate deeper and more substantive analysis through:

  • Briefings

  • Small group "immersion" sessions

  • Written reports

2nd dimension

Enable strategy

Develop and maintain systems and methodologies that ensure your strategy on Russia is based on reality, not stereotypes.

Accentuate relevant foresight thinking about Russia:

  • Attuned to your organisation

  • Bespoke, long-term support

3rd dimension

To learn more about Andrew’s consultancy services, follow the link to get in touch.

Andrew has worked with:

Government ministries

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Think tanks

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Academia

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Private sector clients

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Global energy firms

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Maritime organisations

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Government ministries | Think tanks | Academia | Private sector clients | Global energy firms | Maritime organisations |

  • Monaghan’s extensive knowledge of Russian history, politics, language and culture gives him insights that are crucial to understanding Russia and finding a way back to some sort of normal relationship between Russia and the West.

    Lieutenant General (Retired) Ben Hodges, Center for European Policy Analysis

  • Andrew Monaghan takes a wider approach, analysing Russia’s strengths and weaknesses, its self-image, its perceptions and misperceptions of us, ditto ours of it.

    The Spectator

  • As Monaghan so forcefully argues, "getting Russia right" matters so that misunderstandings do not escalate into conflict, and might eventually lead to fruitful cooperation.

    Alicky Denton, RUSI Journal

  • Dealing with the Russians provides a fresh, informed and rational approach to solving the problems that arise when nations attempt to deal strategically with the Russian Federation. It will be essential reading for those who prefer to master history rather than fall victim to it.

    David M. Glantz, Carlisle, PA

  • Power in Modern Russia - Strategy and Mobilisation is a 'short, sharp and original take on how Russia is seeking to prepare itself for modern conflicts and the difficulties it faces in doing so

    Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman

  • Monaghan offers sharp analysis, broad analytical scope, and original and accessible language. Perhaps foremost among them, however, is his ability to talk to different audiences – scholars, practitioners and the general public.

    Professor Dmitri (Dima) Adamsky

Events and appearances

  • The New Politics of Russia: An evening with Andrew Monaghan

    Monday 18th March 2024
    19:00 at Waterstones, London - Trafalgar Square

    Learn more

  • Launched The New Politics of Russia at RUSI

    Event recording

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  • https://my.rusi.org/events/natos-allied-maritime-power-at-75-conference.html

    NATO's Allied Maritime Power at 75 Conference

    Monday 13th May 2024
    09:30 – 18:00 BST at HMS President, London

    Learn more

  • War in Ukraine: Understanding Russia’s Military Strategy

    16 March 2022
    12:00 by Webcast

    Learn more

  • Book Talk | Russian Grand Strategy in the Era of Global Power Competition

    Thursday 7th April 2022
    11:00 ET by Webcast

    Learn more

  • Andrew Monaghan speaks at Lewes Speakers Festival

    Wednesday 10th January 2024

    Learn more

  • The Sea in Russian Strategy is now featured in the US Chief of Naval Operations Professional Reading Library:

    Click Here

Contact us

andrew@andrewmonaghan.net