This digest reviews five recent contributions to the study of the post-Soviet space. It includes Dinissa Duvanova’s argument on the decline of populism under authoritarian consolidation, Northwestern University’s new course on post-Soviet politics and the Russia–Ukraine war, Nargiz Nagiyeva’s application of postcolonial theory, Hardy and Vlad’s analysis of Russian-backed para-states, and DiPirro and Linderman’s critique of Western policy toward Georgia. Together, these works illuminate the evolving interplay of ideology, authoritarianism, colonial legacies, geopolitical strategy, and Western engagement in the region.