Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russia has played an active role in many different facets of international politics in the past year. Some embrace and celebrate its rise to power, while others are skeptical and criticizing its strong political actions. This time, our talented team of writers have brought to you a series of articles with a geographical focus on Russia from diverse perspectives. On Russia itself, we have two articles about a year of Putin and Russian national identity. Three more articles – including one interview with a Penn Professor – try to discuss about Russia’s international engagement with its neighboring countries, the European Union and the United States. Additionally, we introduce three pieces on general international affairs, exploring the implications of Ebola and China’s war on terrorism and war on corruption.