Timothy Frye

Looking beyond Putin to understand how today's Russia actually works Shortlisted for the Pushkin House Russian Book Prize Media and public discussion tends to understand Russian politics as a direct reflection of Vladimir Putin's seeming omnipotence or Russia's unique history and culture. Yet Russia is remarkably similar to other autocracies, and recognising this illuminates the inherent limits to Putin's power....

Looking beyond Putin to understand how today's Russia actually works Shortlisted for the Pushkin House Russian Book Prize Media and public discussion tends to understand Russian politics as a direct reflection of Vladimir Putin's seeming omnipotence or Russia's unique history and culture. Yet Russia is remarkably similar to other autocracies – and recognising this illuminates the inherent limits to Putin's...