Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, has been in power for almost 25 years. Here are the key points about his reign and where things could go from here:
- Putin promised democracy when he first became president in 1999
- But today, Putin has tightened his grip on power and limited freedoms
- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 may define Putin’s legacy
- Some experts wonder if Putin wants to be an all-powerful ruler like past Russian leaders
Putin’s Path From Democracy to Autocracy
When Vladimir Putin first became Russia’s president in 1999, he vowed to “preserve and develop democracy.” But over the past 24 years, Putin has strayed far from those early promises.
His political opponents are now either exiled, jailed, or, in one tragic case, dead. Putin has changed laws to extend the terms he can serve as president. If he stays until 2036 as allowed, Putin will have ruled Russia with iron authority for over a third of a century!
Putin’s Vision: Regathering Russian Lands
According to Russia expert Fiona Hill, Putin wants to go down in history as “Vladimir the Great.” He aims to emulate past Russian czars by reclaiming lands he views historically belonging to Russia.
Putin’s forcible annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 was an early step towards this vision. His bloody invasion of Ukraine starting in 2022 represents a more significant, more extreme attempt at regaining territory.
Will Putin’s Power Grip Slip?
Hill says it would take “an extraordinary set of circumstances” for Putin to loosen his tight controls on power at this point. Even limited freedoms under past leaders like Gorbachev and Yeltsin led to dangerous unrest that Putin wanted to avoid.
While absolute power can become corrupt over time, Putin has eliminated most checks and balances in Russia. Few politicians could pose a threat to “Putinism” – the centralized, personalized style of Putin’s authoritarian leadership.
A Consequential Crossroads
Putin’s future and legacy now hinge on how the Ukraine war concludes. Hill believes this defines his lasting image more than earlier achievements like stabilizing Russia’s economy.
If Putin can declare victory in Ukraine, he may entrench his hardline rule for years. But outright defeat could risk cracking his power structure’s foundation.
Can “Putinism” outlive Putin himself after over two decades of him embodying the system as its domineering centre of gravity?
Does Putin’s tightening grip on control in Russia make him a modern-day czar or dictator? Or are his actions justifiable efforts to protect stability after the chaos of earlier years? Share your view on Russia’s path in the comments.