What Is Volodya Up To Now?
A Putin Update
December 12th, 2019
Presented by The Evergreen State College Emeritus Professor Tom Rainey
As a statesman Vladimir Putin has had a good year. He has successfully exploited the disarray in the Western alliance systems and extended Russian influence to Europe, the Middle East, the Balkans and Africa. As the United States has withdrawn from the Middle East, Putin has replaced the American President as the major arbiter of conflicts in that vitally strategic area. By supporting right-wing parties and authoritarian governments around the world, but especially in Europe, he has weakened liberal democracies everywhere. Putin has made Russia an indispensable player in global petro-politics. He has built a new modern Russian army and navy, now able to project Russia’s power throughout the world, and especially in Russia’s “near abroad.” He is however losing popularity at home due to a stagnant and faltering economy – the weakest sector in his authoritarian rule. This presentation will focus on Putin’s expansive foreign policy in our times, but also summarize and comment on his problems at home, especially as they relate to foreign policy.
A Putin Update
December 12th, 2019
Presented by The Evergreen State College Emeritus Professor Tom Rainey
As a statesman Vladimir Putin has had a good year. He has successfully exploited the disarray in the Western alliance systems and extended Russian influence to Europe, the Middle East, the Balkans and Africa. As the United States has withdrawn from the Middle East, Putin has replaced the American President as the major arbiter of conflicts in that vitally strategic area. By supporting right-wing parties and authoritarian governments around the world, but especially in Europe, he has weakened liberal democracies everywhere. Putin has made Russia an indispensable player in global petro-politics. He has built a new modern Russian army and navy, now able to project Russia’s power throughout the world, and especially in Russia’s “near abroad.” He is however losing popularity at home due to a stagnant and faltering economy – the weakest sector in his authoritarian rule. This presentation will focus on Putin’s expansive foreign policy in our times, but also summarize and comment on his problems at home, especially as they relate to foreign policy.