معرفی
Vladimir Gelman is Professor of Russian Politics at the Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki, where he has been affiliated since at least 2012. He previously served as Finland Distinguished Professor at the University of Helsinki from 2012-2017. His institutional affiliations include the Russian and Eurasian Studies program and the Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ) at the University of Helsinki, and he has held positions at the European University at St. Petersburg from 2005 to 2022.
Gelman's research focuses on Russian and post-Soviet politics and governance, with particular expertise in political regime dynamics, authoritarianism, political institutions, electoral and party politics, regional and local government, and political capitalism. His work frequently examines the domestic origins of Russia's foreign policy decisions, especially regarding the Ukraine conflict, and analyzes the evolution of Putin's personalist regime. He has made significant contributions to understanding authoritarian resilience, bad governance, and the historical trajectories that have shaped contemporary Russian politics.
His recent publications reveal a clear trend toward analyzing Russia's domestic political dynamics in relation to its aggressive foreign policy, particularly the invasion of Ukraine. His 2023-2025 work demonstrates increasing focus on the connections between internal regime vulnerabilities, leadership challenges, and external aggression. His scholarship combines historical analysis of Russia's political development since the 1990s with contemporary examinations of authoritarian adaptation during crises.
- Honorary Doctorate (2024)
- Russian Political Science Association Award (2013)
- Top-14 studies in Russian economy and society published in 2014
- Просветитель - ПолитПросвет shortlist (2022)
- Europe-Asia Studies journal award
Gelman actively supervises master's theses and participates in doctoral programs as a supervisor. His research is supported by significant grants including the EU Horizon Europe project CENTREPEACE Security Cooperation Cluster (2024-2027), the Research Council of Finland project on Local elections in Ukraine (2023-2026), and previously the Finland Distinguished Professor (FiDiPro) project (2013-2017). His work demonstrates sustained funding support for research on Russian and Eurasian politics.
As principal investigator for multiple research projects, Gelman leads teams focused on Russian and Eurasian studies. He is currently project manager for CENTREPEACE and previously led the Finnish-Russian Network in Russian and Eurasian Studies (FRRESH). His work connects with the Helsinki Inequality Initiative, suggesting interdisciplinary collaboration across the university. His research activities involve extensive international cooperation, as evidenced by his numerous conference participations and academic visits across Europe.
