Zhirinovsky's Bold Geopolitical Predictions Revisited in New Roundtable Debate

A roundtable discussion on Vladimir Zhirinovsky's geopolitical predictions will take place at Far Eastern Federal University. The event, titled The Middle East: Zhirinovsky's Geopolitical Prophecies and Modern Realities, will gather experts in international relations, political scientists, and others to examine his forecasts about the region. Many of his decades-old claims—particularly on US intervention in the Middle East—are now seen as surprisingly relevant amid current tensions. Zhirinovsky, founder of Russia's Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), was known for bold predictions about global conflicts. In the 1990s, he warned that the US would occupy seven Arab nations, dismantle Syria, and launch strikes on Iran. He also forecasted mass refugee flows into Europe, Turkey, and Central Asia, alongside soaring oil prices benefiting Russia. While some of his visions—such as the EU's collapse or Ukraine's dissolution—never materialised, recent US-Israel tensions with Iran and ongoing refugee crises have revived interest in his theories.

Beyond geopolitics, Zhirinovsky pushed for radical domestic reforms. He proposed university admissions without exams, arguing that natural selection would determine success. His calls for a tax-free zone and free land distribution in the Far East later inspired policies like the *Far Eastern hectare* programme and preferential economic regimes. His influence persists within the LDPR. Party leader Leonid Slutsky stresses the need to uphold Zhirinovsky's legacy, particularly his vision of a *Russian World*. Andrey Andreychenko, head of the LDPR faction in Primorsky Krai, describes him as a mentor and a *Teacher with a capital T*, highlighting his lasting impact on party ideology and strategy.

The upcoming roundtable will assess how Zhirinovsky's predictions align with today's Middle East realities. His ideas on US intervention, refugee movements, and energy markets remain points of debate. Meanwhile, his proposed domestic policies have left a tangible mark on Russia's Far East and education discussions. The event aims to clarify which of his forecasts hold weight in the current geopolitical climate.