Dr Robert Horvath is a specialist on Russian Politics. His most recent book is 'Putin's Fascists: Russkii Obraz and the Politics of Managed Nationalism in Russia' (Routledge, 2021). It examines the relationship between the Putin regime and Russkii Obraz, a neo-nazi organization that became a major force on Russia's radical nationalist scene in 2008-10. It shows how Russkii Obraz’s rise was boosted by the regime’s policy of ‘managed nationalism,’ which mobilised radical nationalist proxies against opponents of authoritarianism

He is also the author of Putin's 'Preventive Counter-Revolution' (Routledge, 2013), a study of the programme of reforms and repression that transformed the face of Russian politics during Vladimir Putin's second term as president.

His current research preoccupations include the response of Russia's democratic opposition to the Russia-Ukraine war, and the role of the Kremlin's "human rights defenders" in Russia's autocratisation. 

His commentary has been published in The Age, The Australian, The Conversation, The Lowy Interpreter, The Diplomat, Inside Story, and The Canberra Times. He has appeared on ABC's Four Corners, the BBC World News, and Channel 9's Under Investigation and A Current Affair.