FP This Week: What resisting Russians are reading

Plus, how Cannes got its glitz. MAY 16, 2023  |  [VIEW IN BROWSER](  |  [SUBSCRIBE](     Cathryn Virginia Illustration for Foreign Policy/Getty Images The newest political act in President Vladimir Putin’s Russia? Reading. As in Soviet times, [writes]( Andrei Kolesnikov, when people are unable to protest openly, they express a “different kind of resistance by reading literature that is banned, discouraged, or casts an unfavorable light on the regime.” Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, notes that there has been a surge in interest in stories of spies and espionage. (FP’s own [I Spy]( podcast, which is now four seasons strong, is a great starting point if you’re similarly inclined.) Most intriguing, though, is the upswing in sales of books about Nazi Germany among Russian readers—and not the usual fare about Soviet heroism in the Great Patriotic War, either. “At first glance, this kind of resistance might not seem like much,” writes Kolesnikov. “Yet the act of reading these books should not be dismissed lightly. It matters for the future of Russia which books its citizens are reading.”—The editors   New and Noteworthy - Sudan’s Crisis: The collapse of Sudan's democratic transition has led to anger and backlash in Washington among diplomats and aid officials. Read FP reporter Robbie Gramer’s “[How the U.S. Fumbled Sudan’s Hopes for Democracy](.” Plus, this past Sunday’s [Flash Points newsletter]( was a roundup of some of FP’s best reporting on the U.S. role in this crisis. Sign up for Flash Points, a free weekly themed journey through our archive, [here](. - The Bid to Dethrone the Dollar: The talk of de-dollarization is in the air. Fueled by fears of U.S. sanctions, Russia and China appear to be ramping up efforts, yet again, to use the renminbi in trade with partners. [Here’s why](, despite the hype, the greenback’s dominance is here to stay. - How Cannes Got Its Glitz: Ahead of the [film festival]( starting tomorrow, read a review of a new book that details the transformation of this remote stretch of the French coastline into a legendary hub for the rich and famous.   FP Live Never miss a live conversation: Sign up for FP Live emails [here](. [Ukraine and the Global South]( May 17, 2023 | 11 a.m. EDT Can Ukraine swing the global south? What tools and leverage does Kyiv have over New Delhi, Brasília, or Jakarta? And amid these efforts, what are Ukraine’s plans to maintain Western support? Join Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova in conversation with FP’s Ravi Agrawal as they discuss a crucial angle in the continuing war in Ukraine. [Register here](. 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[Register here](.   Exercise Your Mind The two warring factions in Sudan signed a deal on Thursday. Which of the following is not part of their agreement? - A cease-fire - Restoration of electricity and other services - Protection of civilians - Permission to allow humanitarian aid entry into the country You can find the answer to this question at the end of this email. [Click here]( to take the rest of our weekly news quiz.   Get the daily magazine for people interested in the world. [Subscribe today](.   South Asia Brief: India and the Gulf Are Getting Cozy—to Counter China A new project aims to link New Delhi to the Middle East through roads, rails, and seaports. Last weekend, national security advisors from India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh to discuss an ambitious connectivity project to link the Middle East to India through roads, rails, and seaports. The idea emerged during meetings of the I2U2 group—which also includes Israel—over the last year, Axios reported. The proposed initiative signals that India and the United States are ready to take their joint efforts to counter China beyond the Indo-Pacific region and into the Middle East. It’s clear the Biden administration views the connectivity project as a way to balance Chinese power in the region. “Nobody said it out loud, but it was about China from day one,” a former senior Israeli official told Axios. This is a bit surprising: The I2U2 group—a relatively new vehicle for U.S.-India cooperation in the Middle East—was not envisioned as a China-focused entity, given the close commercial cooperation that both the UAE and Israel enjoy with China… [Continue reading]( this brief online, and [sign up]( to get it weekly.   Most Popular on FP [Telecommunication domes are pictured on a mountaintop near Longyearbyen, in the Svalbard archipelago, on May 10, 2022. ]( [Arctic Harmony Is Falling Apart]( An isolated Russia is turning to China for help in the north. By Elisabeth Braw [Graduates of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government celebrate during commencement in Cambridge, Mass., on May 30, 2019. ]( [How to Succeed in the Foreign-Policy Blob]( Some graduation advice for aspiring members of the foreign-policy establishment in the class of 2023. By Stephen M. 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The discussion will explore the strategies and partnerships that can meaningfully expand equitable access to diagnostics, and the health and socioeconomic impacts from greater access for individuals and communities around the world. [Register here](. May 24, 2023 | In-Person & Virtual | Geneva, Switzerland - Could Green Hydrogen Revolutionize the Energy Sector?: In the latest episode of [Ones and Tooze](, hosts Cameron and Adam take a look at the emergence of green hydrogen and its potential as a major boon for developing countries. Adam also talks about how this green energy source will help reduce emissions for creating steel and other industrial processes. Listen on [Apple](, [Spotify](, or wherever you get your podcasts. Are you interested in learning more about FP Analytics’ cutting-edge research services, hosting an FP Virtual Dialogue event, or building a podcast with FP Studios? [Explore partnership opportunities](. Answer: 1.) A cease-fire. The United States’ mishandling of Sudan’s democratic transition helped fuel the current conflict, FP’s Robbie Gramer reports. [Subscribe to Foreign Policy](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( You’re receiving this email at {EMAIL} because you signed up for the FP This Week newsletter. [MANAGE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES]( | [VIEW OUR PRIVACY POLICY]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Reach the [right online audience]( with us. [Foreign Policy]( is a division of Graham Holdings Company. All contents © 2023 Graham Digital Holding Company LLC. All rights reserved. Foreign Policy, 655 15th St NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20005.