Politics and Global Governance in Eurasia

Until June 19, 2026, HSE students will have an opportunity to assess the quality of their teachers’ work and curriculum content, as well as to elect the best teachers of the academic year.

Till March 24, 2026 HSE students will have an opportunity to assess the quality of their teachers’ work and curriculum content, as well as to assess the quality of the administrative work in the sphere of educational process

Eurasia is not just a geographical term. It is a geopolitical space where history has shaped—and continues to shape—the fate of entire continents. From the dissolution of the Soviet Union to the shifting influence of great powers like China, the EU, and the United States, the region offers a rich laboratory for studying how politics works in practice.Today, understanding Eurasia is more relevant than ever. Global energy politics, post-imperial state-building, war and peace, authoritarian resilience, democratic backsliding—these are all phenomena that play out across the vast space from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. At HSE University-St Petersburg, the master’s programme ‘Comparative Politics of Eurasia’ equips students with theoretical tools and empirical knowledge to study these dynamics critically and comparatively. To explore why students choose this field—and how they envision using it—we spoke to several students of the programme, as well as a professor whose academic career is rooted in the region.

The Master’s programme 'Comparative Politics of Eurasia' trains specialists who can choose various professional paths. Students not only master theoretical aspects of international relations and politics but also develop their competencies in applied spheres. In this interview, Andrey Starodubtsev, academic supervisor of the programme, shares some details about the curriculum, student projects, and career opportunities for graduates.