Mikhail Minakov is a political philosopher whose research focuses on political systems, historical consciousness, and democratic transformation in post‑Soviet and global contexts. He is currently a DAAD Guest Professor at the European University Viadrina and Editor‑in‑Chief of Ideology and Politics. From 2017 to 2025, Minakovserved as Senior Advisor and Principal Investigator on Ukraine at the Kennan Institute. His scholarship and policy work examine how international norms, multilateral institutions, and political ideologies shape state behavior during crises. Minakov brings a comparative and philosophical perspective to questions of why global commitments to prevent mass atrocities repeatedly falter in practice.