The Putin Predicament : Problems of Legitimacy and Succession in Russia

Using the Russian president's major public addresses as the main source, Bo Petersson analyzes the legitimization strategies employed during Vladimir Putin's third and fourth terms in office. The argument is that these strategies have rested on Putin's highly personalized blend of strongman-image projection and presentation as the embodiment of Russia's great power myth. Putin appears as the only credible guarantor against renewed weakness, political chaos, and interference from abroad-in particular from the US. After a first deep crisis of legitimacy manifested itself by the massive protests in 20112012, the annexation of Crimea led to a lengthy boost in Putin's popularity figures. The book discusses how the Crimea effect is, by 2021, trailing off and Putin's charismatic authority is increasingly questioned by opposition from Alexei Navalny, the effects of unpopular reforms, and poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, Russia is bound to head for a succession crisis as the legitimacy of the political system continues to be built on Putin's projected personal characteristics and-now apparently waning-charisma, and since no potential heir apparent has been allowed on center stage. The constitutional reform of summer 2020 made it possible in theory for Putin to continue as president until 2036. Yet, this change did not address the Russian political system's fundamental future leadership dilemma...M.F "Using the Russian president's major public addresses as the main source, Bo Petersson analyzes the legitimization strategies employed during Vladimir Putin's third and fourth terms in office. The argument is that these strategies have rested on Putin's highly personalized blend of strongman-image projection and presentation as the embodiment of Russia's great power myth. Putin appears as the only credible guarantor against renewed weakness, political chaos, and interference from abroad--in particular from the US. After a first deep crisis of legitimacy manifested itself by the massive protests in 2011-2012, the annexation of Crimea led to a lengthy boost in Putin's popularity figures. The book discusses how the Crimea effect is, by 2021, trailing off and Putin's charismatic authority is increasingly questioned by opposition from Alexei Navalny, the effects of unpopular reforms, and poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, Russia is bound to head for a succession crisis as the legitimacy of the political system continues to be built on Putin's projected personal characteristics and--now apparently waning--charisma, and since no potential heir apparent has been allowed on center stage. The constitutional reform of summer 2020 made it possible in theory for Putin to continue as president until 2036. Yet, this change did not address the Russian political system's fundamental future leadership dilemma."-- Provided by publisher "The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology is the most complete reference resource for the field of anthropology and interrelated areas, providing an authoritative and expert overview of the concepts, research, and techniques that together define the discipline. Under the guidance of Editor-in-Chief Hilary Callan - former director of the Royal Anthropological Institute (2000-2010) - and fourteen internationally-respected voices acting as Associate Editors, the Encyclopedia features contributions from a team of over 800 international scholars making this a work of unparalleled depth and breadth of knowledge. Over 1,000 entries, ranging from concise summaries to longer writings, present the reader with in-depth discussions of hundreds of key topics, including: ecology, human evolution, gender, health, language and education, kinship, politics, and power, as well as biographical entries of many of the world's most influential founding anthropologists. Organized alphabetically and written for both the specialist and the general reader, the Encyclopedia is a landmark reference resource for students and scholars engaged within the broad and dynamic field of anthropology, and those studying and working within the related disciplines of psychology, medicine, religious studies, and sociology"--Provided by publisher