GOVT 81.26 Vladimir Putin: Russia in the 21st Century
The question "Who is Mr Putin?" still has no agreed answer. Nor is there any consensus over whether Putin and his circle have hijacked the democracy which the West hoped would flourish in Russia, or whether, the system he has installed will continue for the foreseeable future regardless of who holds power. This course will focus on Putin as an individual, his background, his highly unusual ascent to power, his system of rule, and the continuities and changes in policy that have occurred in the almost 20 years that he has been in power. We will look at why and how this virtual unknown was catapulted into the leadership and how he coped when he got there.
Instructor
Short