Two ‘Rude and Barbarous Kingdoms’: the UK and Russia as the odd couple of Europe – Professor Mark Galeotti

There is a strange connection between Britain and Russia, one marked especially on the Russian side by a striking mix of Anglophilia and a deep conviction that the British are their most subtle and dangerous rivals. In his talk Professor Mark Galeotti will explore the deep and long-standing cultural connections between the two countries, both the direct connections – which date back to the sixteenth century – and their unexpected commonalities, not least a certain feeling of ‘exceptionalism’ in both countries. Being at either end of the Continent, both Britain and Russia arguably consider themselves of but not necessarily in Europe.

Mark Galeotti is a highly-respected historian, lecturer and writer and acknowledged as one of the leading experts on modern Russia and Russian security. He has been researching, analysing and commenting on Russian history and Russia-related security issues since the 1980s. Based in the UK, he is an Honorary Professor at UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies and the director of the consultancy, Mayak Intelligence. He is also a Senior Associate Fellow with both RUSI (Royal United Services Institute) and the Council on Geostrategy, as well as a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Institute of International Relations, Prague.