Russian President Vladimir Putin has managed to consolidate his power throughout the last twenty-two years in very cunning ways that have gone against many laws and constitutional provisions. These laws and provisions were enacted for the exact purpose of denying a dictator access to stay in power for long periods of time, but Putin, as an individual who governs through coercion, has managed to circumvent these previous attempts of sustaining democracy.
Putin began his career in government by rising through the ranks of the KGB, the premier intelligence agency of Russia. He retired from that agency but continued on in government as an advisor to various Russian politicians. Then, in 1999, then Russian President Boris Yeltsin names him Prime Minister, and then that same year, Yeltsin names Putin his successor as President. Of course, this all seems to be a conspired phenomenon, and the exact details are yet to be uncovered.
Putin remains President until 2008 when the Russian constitution says he can no longer continue, and from there he concocts a scheme to remain in power; after the election of President Yeltsin, Yeltsin makes Putin Prime Minister, a cunning strategy that ensured that all but ensured Putin’s continued reign. In 2012, Putin once again ran for and won the Russian Presidency, completely disregarding and going against the Russian constitution (How Vladimir Putin Rose to Power (businessinsider.com)).
Now, in 2021, Putin remains seated in his position, and this very year, Putin passed a law that could keep him in power until 2036 (Vladimir Putin passes law that may keep him in office until 2036 | Vladimir Putin | The Guardian). This is indicative of the sly and authoritarian character of Vladimir Putin.
These are strategies that can only be defeated with more guileful measures; the measures being taken to mitigate the overall rise of Russia must employ those sorts of tactics in an even further effective manner.
Works Cited
Engel, Pamela. How Vladimir Putin became one of the most feared leaders in the world. 17 February 2017. Website. 29 October 2021.
The Guardian. Vladimir Putin passes law that may keep him in office until 2036. 5 April 2021. Website. 29 October 2021.
Thank goodness the United States created Checks and Balances in our constitution to prevent this situation. Putin is the quintessential politician: cunning and void of any power discipline. His interpretation of the Russian constitution is that of a blueprint that he can edit at his disposal. There is no regard for anything else except for his agenda and his satisfaction in the end. I know it’s harsh, but the brutality of politics often goes overlooked because of the media’s interpretation of politicians. Politicians pose as heroes in the United States more than villains, and that misleading information makes Putin look like even worse of a political figure. But, at the end of the day, all politicians are the same; Putin chooses not to try too hard to cover his work. The only way to make sure the United States is “safe” during his reign is to make peace with Putin and move on.
Sebastian, I must admit that I know very little about Russian politics. I am confused about how Putin managed to stay in power if there were laws in place to keep him from staying in power. What is the structure of Russian society like? How do the citizens and leaders allow him to stay in power? This is very interesting becuase I know that America has had a strained relationship with Russia in the past. How do you think this impacts America’s relationship with Russia? Great blog post!
It obviously conflicts with democratic ideals for any public official to have as tight a stranglehold on the seat of power as Putin does in Russia. I find it interesting that rather than detailing any specific actions of Putin or conflicts between Russia and America here, you simply detailed how he got to and remains in his position after so long. It inspired me to investigate what is going on in Russia and unsurprisingly I found an article about Covid (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/opinion/covid-russia-putin.html). It seems as though his regime is having difficulty fighting the pandemic after previously highlighting misinformation on the virus and the vaccine to his base. It reminded me of the conservatives in our country as well.