In English:

Stepanova E., “Foreign Terrorist Fighters from Russia in and after Syria and Iraq: (Trans) National Trends and Threats”, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, vol. 46, no. 11 (2023), pp. 2214–2240.
[Online first: 7 June 2021]. DOI: 10.1080/1057610X.2021.1923625
WoS, Scopus


Stepanova E., “Russia, Central Asia and non-traditional security threats from Afghanistan following the US withdrawal,” Global Policy, vol. 13, no. 1 (February 2022), pp. 138–145.
DOI: 10.1111/1758-5899.13058
WoS, Scopus


Stepanova E., Russia’s Approach to Afghanistan Following the Taliban Takeover, PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo no. 724, 22 November 2021.         pdf

Stepanova E., “Russia and the search for a negotiated solution in Afghanistan,”
Europe-Asia Studies, vol. 73, no. 5 (2021), pp. 928–952.
DOI: 10.1080/09668136.2020.1826908
WoS, Scopus


Stepanova E., “Russia: Beyond the Global South-North Framework,“ in Annette Adler
and Juan Garzon (eds.), Transforming the War on Drugs: Warriors, Victims and Vulnerable Regions, Oxford University's Changing Character of War Series (London: Hurst, 2021), pp. 253–296.
ISBN: 9781787381988                                 Order from Hurst and OUP


Stepanova E., Akhmad J., “Militant-terrorist groups in, and connected to, Afghanistan,” in Terrorism in Afghanistan: A Joint Threat Assessment, U.S.-Russia Working Group on Counterterrorism in Afghanistan (New York: East-West Institute, 2020), pp. 24–40.
ISBN: 978-0-9856824-9-1          pdf (chapter)    pdf (full report)


Stepanova E., Russia and the Afghan Peace Process, Program on New Approaches to Research and Security in Eurasia (PONARS Eurasia) Policy Memo no. 618, October 2019 (Washington D.C.: Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University)    pdf    html


Stepanova E., Russia's Afghan Policy in the Regional and Russia-West Contexts, Russie.NEI.Reports, no. 23 (Paris: Institut français des relations internationales (Ifri),
May 2018), 48 p.    pdf
ISBN: 978-2-36567-855-1


Stepanova E., “Russia's Policy on Afghanistan,” in The Central Asia - Afghanistan Relationship: From Soviet Intervention to the Silk Road Initiatives, ed. by Marlene Laruelle (Lexington Books / Rowman & Littlefield, 2017), p. 89–114.
    ISBN 978-1-4985-4654-6

Stepanova E. (ed.), Addressing Terrorism, Violent Extremism and Radicalization (Perspectives from Russia and the United States) (Moscow, IMEMO, 2017), 262 p. [Pathways to Peace and Security. no. 1(52): Special Issue, May 2017].
Contents;   Preface;   PDF.
ISBN 978-5-9535-0502-4; DOI: 10.20542/978-5-9535-0502-4

Stepanova E., The ISIS factor in Afghanistan: how much of a challenge for Russia? Eurasia.org, Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies (Columbia Univ.) and OSCE Academy in Bishkek Project, Bishkek Project Memo, 30 March 2017.

Stepanova E. The Political Crisis in Afghanistan and its Implications for Russia, Russian Council on Foreign Affairs analytical brief, 25 July 2014.

Stepanova E., Russia's Concerns Relating to Afghanistan and the Broader Region in the Context of the US/NATO Withdrawal, Policy Research Paper Series “Sources of Tension in Afghanistan and Pakistan - Regional Perspectives” (Barcelona: CIDOB, June 2013), 23 p.


Stepanova E. Interview on Afghanistan and regional efforts to address narcotrafficking, by F.Bayat, Centre for Universal Drug Research, Approaches and Studies (CUDRAS), Tehran, 15 April 2014.

Stepanova E. (principal author), Afghan Narcotrafficking: A Joint Threat Assessment,
Report by Joint U.S.-Russia Working Group on the Afghan Narcotrafficking
(New York: EastWest Institute, 2013), 60 p.


Stepanova E., Afghanistan after 2014: The Way Forward for Russia, Russie.NEI.Visions, no. 71, May 2013 (Paris: Institut français des relations internationales (Ifri), 2013), 19 p.



Stepanova E. Implications of the withdrawal of the U.S./NATO forces from Afghanistan, in The Future of Russia's Involvement in Central Asia, Central Asia Policy Forum, no. 3 (Dec. 2012), pp. 2-3, 5-7, 9-10.

Stepanova E. “Illicit drugs and insurgency in Afghanistan,” in Perspectives on Terrorism, vol. VI, no. 2 (May 2012), pp. 4-18.

Stepanova E. The Path to a Political Solution in Afghanistan, PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo no. 190, July 2011 (Washington D.C.: Georgetown University Eurasia Strategy Project).

Stepanova E. Post-Bin Laden prospects for the peace process in Afghanistan, International Affairs at LSE, 16 May 2011.

Stepanova Å. “Transnational threats: terrorism, drug trafficking, piracy,” in Alexandr Dynkin and Natalia Ivanova (eds), Russia in a Polycentric World (Moscow: Ves Mir, 2011), pp. 141–148, in Russian.

Stepanova E. “Beyond `narcoterrorism’: illicit drug business and terrorist tactics in armed conflicts”, in The Politics of Narcotic Drugs: A Survey (London: Routledge, 2010), pp. 120–130.

See section “Illicit drugs and armed violence in Afghanistan” (pp. 50-55), in Stepanova E., “Armed conflict, crime and criminal violence,” in SIPRI Yearbook 2010: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010), pp. 37–60.

Stepanova E. “Illicit drug business and armed conflicts: the scope and limits of the links,” in J.G.Tokatlian (ed.)., Drugs and Prohibition: An Old War, a New Debate (Buenos Aires: Zorzal, 2010), pp. 287–314.
See also in Spanish.

Stepanova E., Does Russia Want the West to Succeed in Afghanistan?, PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo no. 61, September 2009 (Washington D.C.: Georgetown University Eurasia Strategy Project).

Stepanova E., Iran and Afghanistan: Cross Border Security Challenges, Conflict Management, and Iran-U.S. Relations, PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo no. 56, May 2009 (Washington D.C.: Georgetown Univ. Eurasia Strategy Program).

See section on Pakistan (pp. 64-70), in Stepanova E., “Trends in Armed Conflicts,” in SIPRI Yearbook 2008: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008), pp. 44–71.

Stepanova E., “Illicit drug trafficking and Islamist terrorism as threats to Russia’s security: The limits of the linkage,” in PONARS Policy Conference, 9 December 2005 (Washington D.C.: CSIS, 2005), pp. 165–170.

Stepanova E., “War and peace building,” in The Washington Quarterly (Special Issue: “What Did 9/11 Change?”), vol. 27, no. 4 (Autumn 2004), pp. 127–136.

Stepanova E., “International peace-building and radical Islamic organisations in war-torn areas: beyond terrorism,” in The Failure of Political Islam, Human Rights Conflict Prevention Center Research Papers [Bihac, Bosnia-Herzegovina], vol. IV, no. 3–4, 2004, pp. 507–527.

Stepanova E., Anti-Terrorism and Peace-Building During and After Conflict (Stockholm: SIPRI, 2003).
    See also reprint: Stepanova E., “Anti-Terrorism and peace-building during and after conflict,” in Peace Studies: Critical Concepts in Political Science (London: Routledge, 2005), vol. III, pp. 338–389.

Stepanova E., “Partners in need: U.S.-Russia cooperation on and approaches to anti-terrorism,” PONARS Policy Memo no. 279, in PONARS Policy Conference 2002 (Washington D.C.: CSIS, 2002), pp. 187–192.

Stepanova E., “U.S.-Russia cooperation in Afghanistan and its implications,” East European Constitutional Review, 2001, vol. 10, no. 10, pp. 92–95.

Stepanova E. “U.S.–Russia Cooperation on Afghanistan: An Exception or a Model? PONARS Policy Memo no. 201, September 2001 (Washington D.C.: CSIS).

Stepanova E., International Terrorism in the Southern Tier: Perceived or Real Threat to Russia’s Security? PONARS Policy Memo no. 167, November 2000 (Washington D.C.: Council on Foreign Relations).


In Russian:

See section 4.5.3: "FTFs and the ISIS factor in northern Afghanistan", pp. 132-147, in Stepanova E., ISIS and the Phenomenon of Foreign Terrorist Fighters in Syria and Iraq (Moscow: IMEMO, 2020), 198 p.
ISBN: 978-5-9535-0583-3
DOI: 10.20542/978-5-9535-0583-3


Stepanova E., [The Afghan peace process and Russia's role], in Pathways to Peace and Security, no. 2(57), 2019, pp. 21–33.    pdf
DOI: 10.20542/2307-1494-2019-2-21-33.



Stepanova E., [Russia and the United States in the fight against terrorism: comparative threats and approaches, Syria, Afghanistan, countering violent extremism], in Addressing Terrorism, Violent Extremism and Radicalization (Perspectives from Russia and the United States), ed. by Ekaterina Stepanova (Moscow: IMEMO, 2017) [Pathways to Peace and Security. no. 1(52): Special Issue, May 2017], pp. 13–54.
DOI: 10.20542/2307-1494-2017-1-13-54

Stepanova E., [The ISIS factor and the Taliban movement in Russia's policy on Afghanistan and in the broader region], in Addressing Terrorism, Violent Extremism and Radicalization (Perspectives from Russia and the United States), ed. by Ekaterina Stepanova [Pathways to Peace and Security. no. 1(52): Special Issue, May 2017], pp. 213–237.
DOI: 10.20542/2307-1494-2017-1-213-237

Stepanova E., Cragin K., "The fight against terrorism," in A Roadmap for U.S.-Russia Relations, A Report of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program, RIAC report no. 30/2017, ed. by Igor Ivanov, Andrei Kortunov and Olga Oliker (Moscow: RIAC, 2017), pp. 96–105. ISBN 978-5-9500378-1-8

Stepanova E. [Political crisis in Afghanistan and its implications for Russia], Russian Council on Foreign Affairs Analytical Brief, 25 July 2015.

Stepanova E., Afganskii narkotrafik: sovmestnaya otsenka ugrozy, Report by Joint U.S.-Russia Working Group on Afghan Narcotrafficking (New York; Moscow: EastWest Institute, 2014), 60 p.



Stepanova E., [Afghanistan after 2014: The Way Forward for Russia], Russie.NEI.Visions, no. 71 (Paris: Ifri, 2013), 26 p.



See chapter 1: [Illicit drug business and armed conflict in Afghanistan], pp. 35-94, in:
Stepanova E.A., Rol' Narkobiznesa v Politekonomii Konfliktov i Terrorizma
[The Role of Illicit Drug Business in the Political Economy of Conflicts and Terrorism]
(Moscow: Ves Mir, 2005), 312 p.


Stepanova E.A. [Russia, the USA and countering the narcotrafficking from Afghanistan], in Pro et Contra, vol. 17, no. 6(61), (Nov.-Dec. 2013), pp. 102–119.

Stepanova E. [Afghanistan: the prospects for political settlement], in Puti k miru i bezopasnosti [Pathways to Peace and Security], Issue 1(42) (February 2012) [Moscow: IMEMO], pp. 18–33;
   reprinted in: Rossiya i musulmankii mir [Russia and the Muslim World], no. 6 (2013), pp. 72–88.

Stepanova E., [Russia’s humanitarian potential and post-conflict reconstruction], in Mirovaya ekonomika i mezhdunarodnyie otnoshenija [World Economy and International Relations], no. 5 (May 2007), pp. 65–78.

Stepanova E., [Illicit drug trafficking and its links to conflicts and terrorism: Afghanistan and Central Asia], in Razoruzhenije i bezopasnost [Disarmament and Security, 2001–2002] (Moscow: Nauka, 2003), pp. 57–72.

Stepanova E., [Illicit drug trade in Afghanistan and Central Asia in the context of anti-terrorism campaign], in Yadernii Kontrol' [Nuclear Control], no. 5 (Sep./Oct. 2002), pp. 37–49.


In Farsi:

Stepanova E. Interview on Afghanistan and regional efforts to address narcotrafficking, by F.Bayat, Centre for Universal Drug Research, Approaches and Studies (CUDRAS), Tehran, 15 April 2014.


In French

Stepanova E., L’Afghanistan après 2014: quel impact pour la Russie? Russie.NEI.Visions, no. 71, mai 2013 (Paris: Ifri, 2013), 22 p.