Taking Advantage of Summer: A Deep Dive into “Next Year in Moscow”

Taking Advantage of Summer: A Deep Dive into “Next Year in Moscow” This summer, I finally had the chance to listen to Next Year in Moscow, the powerful podcast series by Arkady Ostrovsky, produced by The Economist. Though released in 2023/2024, this series is nothing short of a small masterpiece. I strongly encourage everyone to listen to it—not just to learn, but to reflect. It offers rare and valuable insight into the Russia-Ukraine conflict, framed through a Russian lens. My hope is that it captures the voice of the silent majority within Russian society—those whose stories often go unheard. Each episode is brilliantly narrated, contextualized, and constructed with care and precision. Arkady Ostrovsky deserves full credit for this remarkable work. I can’t recommend Next Year in Moscow enough. Make time for it. Let yourself absorb the stories, the perspectives, and the underlying complexity of a nation in turmoil. This is also my tribute—to those still fighting an uphill battle from within, and to those forced into exile who carry with them their integrity, their values, and their vision of freedom. And who knows—maybe next year, you’ll be able to celebrate in Moscow once again: “Boy, bring us some vodka… we are coming home.” (text revised by a LLM) https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/next-year-in-moscow

- Pedro

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