A nation must think before it acts.
Vladimir Putin, 73, has been Russia’s leader for over a quarter of a century and the driving force behind Moscow’s efforts to reassert control over its former Soviet and Tsarist empire. His eventual departure from the world stage will bring hope that a new Russian leader will end these imperial impulses and behavior. However, a review of Russian history, politic...
This analysis presents a compelling case for structural continuity in post-Putin Russia, grounded in historical patterns, institutional design, and societal norms. The strongest version of the argument—its steelman—is that Russia’s autocratic system is resilient precisely because it is adaptable within narrow bounds. The "vertical of power" ensures that any successor must navigate the same constraints Putin did: balancing elite factions, maintaining control over security apparatuses, and managin...