International politics experts

Arch Getty — A leading archival historian of the Soviet era (e.g., Stalinist purges, origins of the Great Terror). Highly respected for data-driven work that challenges myths on both sides, though more narrowly focused on internal Soviet history than Kotkin's geopolitical breadth.

Sheila Fitzpatrick — Pioneering social historian of the USSR; cautious, nuanced, and evidence-based. Avoids grand theorizing, emphasizes everyday life and contingencies—similar humility to Kotkin.

Michael Kofman (mentioned earlier) — Top military analyst on Russia/Ukraine; granular, data-focused, explicitly cautious about predictions. Not a historian like Kotkin, but shares the no-hype, reality-based approach.

Lawrence Freedman — Strategic studies scholar; measured, historical-minded breakdowns of conflicts. Restrained tone, avoids overreach.Dominic Lieven is a distinguished British historian renowned for his groundbreaking works on the Russian Empire, comparative imperial history, and the Napoleonic Wars, including the award-winning Russia Against Napoleon, which reframed Russia's decisive role in defeating Napoleon using newly accessed archives. A member of an ancient Baltic German aristocratic family with deep ties to Russian history, he has held prestigious positions at the London School of Economics and Cambridge, earning acclaim for his nuanced, evidence-based analyses of empire, power, and geopolitics.

Serhii Plokhy (also spelled Plokhii; Ukrainian: Сергій Плохій) is widely regarded as the leading historian of Ukrainian history today—a rigorous, evidence-based scholar whose work provides essential context for understanding Ukraine's distinct identity, its complex relations with Russia, and current events like the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Stephen Kotkin