Ekaterina Kurbangaleeva

Ekaterina Kurbangaleeva is a visiting scholar at George Washington University and a prominent expert on Russian socio-economic issues. She has focused her research on the transformations within Russian society, particularly in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine and its effects on the new middle class emerging in Russia's industrial heartlands. Kurbangaleeva’s insights highlight the paradox of how the war economy has lifted some impoverished regions out of economic despair, while also raising concerns about the long-term stability and social dynamics as soldiers return home. Her analysis suggests that the socio-economic changes driven by the war might have lasting repercussions for both the soldiers and their communities.