Maria Popova

Associate Professor political science post-Communist Europe

Region(s): Europe
Country of focus: Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine
Based in Montreal

Details

Current Occupation: Associate Professor political science post-Communist Europe
Organization/Institution: McGill University
Language: English, Russian, Bulgarian

Media

Is a mutiny attempt the beginning of the end for Putin? CBC Jun 26, 2023

Why Some Ukrainians Aren’t Happy With Navalny’s Oscar Win Time Mar 14, 2023

What history shows: How will the war in Ukraine end? Al Jazeera Mar 2, 2023

The war in Ukraine triggered a reckoning in universities Coda Feb 24, 2023

Is Russia’s anti-war movement changing people’s minds? Coda Feb 16, 2023

What Wagner Group’s ‘Criminal Organization’ Label Means Newsweek Feb 6, 2023

What Joining the European Union Would Mean for Ukraine—and the Alliance Time Feb 3, 2023

What to Know About the Corruption Scandals Sweeping Ukraine’s Government Time Feb 1, 2023

Time Is On Ukraine’s Side, Not Russia’s Just Security Dec 21, 2022

Russia Issues New Threat About Ukraine War as Zelensky Heads to U.S. Newsweek Dec 21, 2022

Putin Gains Little From Taking Bakhmut as Forces Appear to Break Through Newsweek Dec 15, 2022

Push to restrict talk of LGBTQ issues in Russia will leave community ‘even more unprotected’ CBC News Oct 23, 2022

Canadian Government Tells Hockey Players in Russia, Belarus To Leave High Times Sep 29, 2022

Six months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, here’s what everyone got wrong Toronto Star Aug 24, 2022

The Re-Sovietization of Russian Universities Times Higher Education Jun 24, 2022

Professor Maria Popova on Twitter, Research and the War in Ukraine McGill Arts Jun 16, 2022

The Ukraine crisis may reinvigorate Eastern European democracies Washington Post May 23

Was NATO Enlargement a Mistake? Foreign Affairs Asks the Experts Foreign Affairs Apr 19, 2022

How Canada can help Ukraine by leading on the world stage Policy Options Mar 31, 2022

Russia Sanctions Put West in ‘Juggling Act’ to End Ukraine War Newsweek Mar 30, 2022

Ukraine Belongs in the EU  Journal of Democracy March 2022

Could a neutral status help guarantee Ukraine’s safety? Experts weigh in Global News Mar 18, 2022

Some Russian NHLers considering options as U.S., Canada expand sanctions TSN Mar 10, 2022

Can Russia’s oligarchs help free Brittney Griner? Yahoo Sports Mar 9, 2022

Putin Seems to Sideline Advisers on Ukraine New York Times Feb 26, 2022

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Is Essentially Not About NATO co-author Just Security Feb 24, 2022

Putin Cannot Erase Ukraine  co-author Foreign Affairs Feb 17, 2022

Dangerous Diplomacy: Why Placating Putin Now Could Doom Ukrainian Democracy Later co-author Journal of Democracy Feb 14, 2022

Are Russia and Ukraine really at the brink of war? CBC Radio Sunday Magazine Jan 23, 2022

How escalating Russia-Ukraine crisis could impact Canada Global News Video Jan 26, 2022

Ottawa annonce un train de mesures en appui à Kiev La Presse Jan 26, 2022

‘We do fear an armed conflict in Ukraine,’ Justin Trudeau says Toronto Star Jan 19, 2022

G7 warns Russia of ‘massive consequences’ if Ukraine invaded CBC News The National Dec 2021

Alexei Navalny’s return to Russia — and his arrest — have upended Russian politics Washington Post Jan 28, 2021

 

 

Maria Popova (@PopovaProf) is an expert on politics, law and governance in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and other countries in the post-communist region of Europe.

She is an associate professor of political science and Jean Monnet chair at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Her research explores politics and the rule of law, judicial reform, political corruption, populist parties, autocratic legalism, and legal repression of dissent and protest.

Her book Politicized Justice in Emerging Democracies: A Study of Courts in Russia and Ukraine was named the 2012-13 best book on Ukrainian history, politics, language, literature, and culture by the American Association for Ukrainian Studies.

Her current projects deal with the politics of corruption prosecutions, conspiracism in new democracies, reforms in Bulgaria and Ukraine, and Russia’s ongoing aggression towards Ukraine.

Maria  holds a PhD in Government from Harvard University. Her work has been published in many political science journals and edited volumes.