Memo to the West: Stop Giving Russians Reasons to Love Putin

Haters Shouldn't Be Surprised That Their Mockery Only Makes Vlad Stronger

On Sunday, Sept. 18, millions of Russians went to the polls in national legislative elections that delivered Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party a decisive win, netting more half the popular vote and three-quarters of seats in the Duma, Russia’s parliament. Unlike five years ago, when tens of thousands of people stood out in the snow to protest for free and fair elections, there were few cries of fraud, and no discernible protests. Instead, Putin’s cause was aided by a low voter turnout that you can read as a sign of …

By Emily Tamkin | September 26, 2016

Vladimir’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Year

Plummeting Oil Prices and Political Overreach Will Put a Premature End to the Putin Era

by Mike Bradshaw | December 22, 2014

A year ago, Vladimir Putin had every reason to look forward to a victory lap. As he presided over final preparations for the Winter Olympics, he felt emboldened by his …

What’s Good for Putin Is Good for California

From Aerospace to Hollywood Bad Guys, a New Cold War Offers Myriad Opportunities for the State to Prosper

by Joe Mathews | July 31, 2014

Here are two words Californians should say to Vladimir Putin:

Thank you.

California, with its historic reliance on defense-related industries, never quite recovered from the end of the Cold War. Today, Los …

Why Obama Shouldn’t Fall for Putin’s Ukrainian Folly

Russia and the West Have Conspired to Tear the Country Apart. Both Sides Must Stand Down Now or Face the Consequences.

by Anatol Lieven | March 2, 2014

We’re now witnessing the consequences of how grossly both Russia and the West have overplayed their hands in Ukraine. It is urgently necessary that both should find ways of withdrawing …

Decembrists Haunt the Kremlin

Absent the Show, Vladimir Putin’s Charade Runs into Trouble

by Steve LeVine | December 13, 2011

For the last four years, Russia was ruled according to a careful choreography: President Dmitry Medvedev was the face of a variously tough-talking and reformist agenda that included the erection …

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