Fiona Hill on Russia, the US, Economic Decline, and Demagoguery

Fiona Hill became a household name in 2019, as a witness during President Trump’s first impeachment hearing. But before all that, she was an intelligence analyst specializing in Russia and Europe for Presidents Obama and Bush. And she watched closely as economic stagnation and inequality in Russia fueled populism and authoritarianism. As her new book explains, a similar trajectory has been playing out in her birthplace in the North of England, and in her new home – the United States. The book, titled ‘There Is Nothing For You Here: Finding Opportunity in the 21st Century,’ combines a personal history with a global history, and in the process explains the social and economic forces that lead to anti-democratic movements. This episode was originally broadcast on the Rhodes Center Podcast, another show from the Watson Institute that’s hosted by political economist Mark Blyth. It was recorded in late February, so some references to the conflict in Ukraine may be a little out of date by the time you’re listening to this. But regardless of where this conflict stands as you hear this, Fiona’s analysis of what brought Russia, the UK, and the US to this troubling reality is as timely as ever. Watch a recording of the talk Fiona gave to students on our YouTube Channel. Learn more about and purchase Fiona’s book. Recent analyses on the conflict in Ukraine from other experts at the Watson Institute.