![Samuel Greene](/newimages/sspp/Russia/staffprofiles/sgreene-headshot160.xa9960e0b.jpg?f=webp)
Professor Samuel Greene
Professor of Russian Politics
Research interests
- Politics
Biography
Sam Greene is professor in Russian politics at King’s College London. Prior to moving to London in 2012 to join King’s, he lived and worked in Moscow for 13 years, most recently as director of the Centre for the Study of New Media & Society at the New Economic School, and as deputy director of the Carnegie Moscow Center. He holds a PhD in political sociology from the London School of Economics & Political Science.
His most recent book, co-authored with Graeme Robertson, is Putin v the People: The Perilous Politics of a Divided Russia, published in 2019 by Yale University Press. His previous book, Moscow in Movement: Power & Opposition in Putin’s Russia, was published in 2014 by Stanford University Press. Sam’s academic work has been published in leading disciplinary and area studies journals, including Comparative Political Studies, Perspectives on Politics, The Journal of Democracy, Post-Soviet Affairs and Problems of Post-Communism. He regularly contributes opinion and analysis pieces to general interest publications, such as The Washington Post, The Moscow Times, Foreign Policy, The New Statesman and others, and is a frequent commentator in British, American, Russian and European broadcast and print media.
Alongside his work at King’s, Sam is an Associate Fellow of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a Trustee of Pushkin House, and Editor-in-Chief of Russian Politics & Law.
Research
Sam’s research focuses on the relationships of power in Russia, in authoritarianism, and in societies experiencing social, economic and political transformation more broadly. He seeks to deploy a variety of mostly qualitative approaches from political science and political sociology to uncover citizens’ evolving understanding of their state, their identity as citizens and the meaning of their political community. In addition, Sam has a particular interest in online social media, both as a factor in social mobilization and political mobilization, and as a venue for conducting new kinds of research.
Sam is open to supervising PhD projects on any of these themes, particularly with reference to Russia and the post-Soviet region.
Teaching
Research
![Bolsonaro Yellow Background](/newimages/sspp/Global-Institutes/Hero/bolsonaro-yellow-background.x0f01ac39.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,14&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Authoritarianism and populism research group
Examining the rise and effects of authoritarianism and populism.
News
King's experts offer insights following death of Alexei Navalny
The death of prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has generated headlines around the globe.
![2019-11-21 Russian Language skills main](/newimages/mlc/events/main-images/2019-11-21-russian-language-skills-main.x26718c0c.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
New director of King's Russia Institute announced
The King’s Russia Institute has announced the appointment of a new director.
![News from the School of Politics and Economics](/newimages/sspp/news-events/spenewsstock.xbea8b075.png?w=780&h=585&crop=780,440,0,145&f=webp)
Kremlin's media clampdown risks pushing consumers into space 'beyond state's reach'
Increasingly coercive attempts by the Kremlin to control the Russian media space could push people to seek out alternative forms of information, new research...
![coda_social media](/ImportedImages/Schools/Business/misc-business-pics/coda-social-media.x35034e05.jpg?w=780&h=551&crop=780,440,0,56&f=webp)
Sharing our expertise and insights on the war on Ukraine
Researchers and academics in our Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy are using their expertise to inform discussion and debate around Russia’s invasion...
![ukraine and russia's flags painted on broken concrete](/newimages/sspp/faculty-top-level/hero/ukraine-russia-banner-size.xc5bcfb4f.png?w=1501&h=440&crop=780,440,361,0&f=webp)
Invasion of Ukraine unlikely....but not impossible
An invasion of Ukraine would “break just about every rule” in a playbook that has ensured the political longevity of Vladimir Putin…but that doesn’t make it...
![ukraine-map](/ImportedImages/Kingsworldwide/RussiaInstitute/ukraine-map.xaadf7605.jpg?w=780&h=493&crop=780,440,0,27&f=webp)
Major new study published on disinformation in the Western Balkans
A new report on disinformation in the Western Balkans, authored by King's academics, was presented to the European Parliament on 3 December 2020.
![letter tiles spelling out the words fake news](/newimages/sspp/Russia/fakenews-780-440.x49880716.jpg?f=webp)
Praise for academic team as promotions are confirmed
The head of the School of Politics and Economics has paid tribute to the hard work of academic staff after news of several successful promotions was confirmed.
![SPE news](/newimages/sspp/news-events/spenewsstock.xbea8b075.png?w=780&h=585&crop=780,440,0,145&f=webp)
Research shows citizens are turning off and tuning out president
Belarussians are tuning out their beleaguered president Aleksandar Lukashenka in the search for trusted sources of news, new research has revealed.
![Citizens are turning to online sources of news.](/ImportedImages/Aboutsection/professionalservices/stu-bus-systems/online-key.x3ef6a157.jpg?w=780&h=516&crop=780,440,0,38&f=webp)
Changing society the driving force behind protests in Belarus
Social media and the development of civil society have both played leading roles in the protest movements which have emerged in Belarus in recent weeks, an...
![Protesters have taken to the streets in Minsk. Picture: EUGENE NEVIAROUSKI](/newimages/sspp/Russia/eugene-neviarouski-l3brxp90ngw-unsplash.xdb7d1131.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
Survey shows support for Russian president has waned
New survey data shows support for Russian President Vladimir Putin has weakened significantly this year.
![The Zhivopisny Bridge in Moscow. Picture: ALEXANDER SMAGIN](/newimages/sspp/Russia/alexander-smagin-b-f3hj-z-sc-unsplash.x5df72c21.jpg?w=783&h=440&crop=780,440,2,0&f=webp)
Events
![Russian President, Vladimir Putin.](/newimages/main/putin-promo.x9247831b.jpg?f=webp)
Book launch: The Red Mirror
Gulnaz Sharafutdinova explores Russian politics and Vladimir Putin's leadership through the lens of social identity theory
Please note: this event has passed.
![kremlin](/newimages/sspp/Security/dsd/feature800-430/kremlin.xdb0c629a.png?f=webp)
Book Launch: Russian Imperialism Revisited – From Disengagement to Hegemony
What's really behind Russia's assertive role in the former Soviet space.
Please note: this event has passed.
![moscow-article](/newimages/sspp/Russia/moscow-article.x9ae448f8.jpg?f=webp)
After the Russia Report: Options for London, Moscow and Beyond
A joint event war studies and King’s Russia Institute event
Please note: this event has passed.
![Vladimir Putn, president of the Russian Federation.](/newimages/main/putin-promo.x9247831b.jpg?f=webp)
State secrecy and coronavirus in former Soviet Union nations
This online discussion will assess whether state secrecy is downplaying the impact of Covid-19 in former Soviet nations
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Sharing our expertise and insights on the war on Ukraine
Researchers and academics in our Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy are using their expertise to inform discussion and debate around Russia’s invasion...
![ukraine russia banner size](/newimages/sspp/faculty-top-level/hero/ukraine-russia-banner-size.xc5bcfb4f.png?f=webp)
Research
![Bolsonaro Yellow Background](/newimages/sspp/Global-Institutes/Hero/bolsonaro-yellow-background.x0f01ac39.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,14&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Authoritarianism and populism research group
Examining the rise and effects of authoritarianism and populism.
News
King's experts offer insights following death of Alexei Navalny
The death of prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has generated headlines around the globe.
![2019-11-21 Russian Language skills main](/newimages/mlc/events/main-images/2019-11-21-russian-language-skills-main.x26718c0c.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
New director of King's Russia Institute announced
The King’s Russia Institute has announced the appointment of a new director.
![News from the School of Politics and Economics](/newimages/sspp/news-events/spenewsstock.xbea8b075.png?w=780&h=585&crop=780,440,0,145&f=webp)
Kremlin's media clampdown risks pushing consumers into space 'beyond state's reach'
Increasingly coercive attempts by the Kremlin to control the Russian media space could push people to seek out alternative forms of information, new research...
![coda_social media](/ImportedImages/Schools/Business/misc-business-pics/coda-social-media.x35034e05.jpg?w=780&h=551&crop=780,440,0,56&f=webp)
Sharing our expertise and insights on the war on Ukraine
Researchers and academics in our Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy are using their expertise to inform discussion and debate around Russia’s invasion...
![ukraine and russia's flags painted on broken concrete](/newimages/sspp/faculty-top-level/hero/ukraine-russia-banner-size.xc5bcfb4f.png?w=1501&h=440&crop=780,440,361,0&f=webp)
Invasion of Ukraine unlikely....but not impossible
An invasion of Ukraine would “break just about every rule” in a playbook that has ensured the political longevity of Vladimir Putin…but that doesn’t make it...
![ukraine-map](/ImportedImages/Kingsworldwide/RussiaInstitute/ukraine-map.xaadf7605.jpg?w=780&h=493&crop=780,440,0,27&f=webp)
Major new study published on disinformation in the Western Balkans
A new report on disinformation in the Western Balkans, authored by King's academics, was presented to the European Parliament on 3 December 2020.
![letter tiles spelling out the words fake news](/newimages/sspp/Russia/fakenews-780-440.x49880716.jpg?f=webp)
Praise for academic team as promotions are confirmed
The head of the School of Politics and Economics has paid tribute to the hard work of academic staff after news of several successful promotions was confirmed.
![SPE news](/newimages/sspp/news-events/spenewsstock.xbea8b075.png?w=780&h=585&crop=780,440,0,145&f=webp)
Research shows citizens are turning off and tuning out president
Belarussians are tuning out their beleaguered president Aleksandar Lukashenka in the search for trusted sources of news, new research has revealed.
![Citizens are turning to online sources of news.](/ImportedImages/Aboutsection/professionalservices/stu-bus-systems/online-key.x3ef6a157.jpg?w=780&h=516&crop=780,440,0,38&f=webp)
Changing society the driving force behind protests in Belarus
Social media and the development of civil society have both played leading roles in the protest movements which have emerged in Belarus in recent weeks, an...
![Protesters have taken to the streets in Minsk. Picture: EUGENE NEVIAROUSKI](/newimages/sspp/Russia/eugene-neviarouski-l3brxp90ngw-unsplash.xdb7d1131.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
Survey shows support for Russian president has waned
New survey data shows support for Russian President Vladimir Putin has weakened significantly this year.
![The Zhivopisny Bridge in Moscow. Picture: ALEXANDER SMAGIN](/newimages/sspp/Russia/alexander-smagin-b-f3hj-z-sc-unsplash.x5df72c21.jpg?w=783&h=440&crop=780,440,2,0&f=webp)
Events
![Russian President, Vladimir Putin.](/newimages/main/putin-promo.x9247831b.jpg?f=webp)
Book launch: The Red Mirror
Gulnaz Sharafutdinova explores Russian politics and Vladimir Putin's leadership through the lens of social identity theory
Please note: this event has passed.
![kremlin](/newimages/sspp/Security/dsd/feature800-430/kremlin.xdb0c629a.png?f=webp)
Book Launch: Russian Imperialism Revisited – From Disengagement to Hegemony
What's really behind Russia's assertive role in the former Soviet space.
Please note: this event has passed.
![moscow-article](/newimages/sspp/Russia/moscow-article.x9ae448f8.jpg?f=webp)
After the Russia Report: Options for London, Moscow and Beyond
A joint event war studies and King’s Russia Institute event
Please note: this event has passed.
![Vladimir Putn, president of the Russian Federation.](/newimages/main/putin-promo.x9247831b.jpg?f=webp)
State secrecy and coronavirus in former Soviet Union nations
This online discussion will assess whether state secrecy is downplaying the impact of Covid-19 in former Soviet nations
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Sharing our expertise and insights on the war on Ukraine
Researchers and academics in our Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy are using their expertise to inform discussion and debate around Russia’s invasion...
![ukraine russia banner size](/newimages/sspp/faculty-top-level/hero/ukraine-russia-banner-size.xc5bcfb4f.png?f=webp)