22 votes

The crisis that could take down Putin’s presidency

8 comments

  1. [7]
    Kijafa
    Link
    I've always assumed that a big reason for all of Putin's external moves were to distract the Russian people from how bad their domestic situation is. Annexing parts of Georgia and Crimea were all...

    I've always assumed that a big reason for all of Putin's external moves were to distract the Russian people from how bad their domestic situation is. Annexing parts of Georgia and Crimea were all designed to stoke nationalism and direct anger away from the government and toward external sources. Same with what he's doing with the US currently. All he's pushing with Trump et al. seems to me to have an endgame of lifting sanctions, since the Russian economy is contracting.

    Pension reform here in Houston is bad enough with emergency workers who can't even legally go on strike, I can't imagine it'll go over well in Russia right now. If people take to the streets, it'll be bad.

    6 votes
    1. [2]
      clerical_terrors
      Link Parent
      Pensions are one of those "damned if you do, damned if don't" political issues. He probably can't afford to keep the system the way it is and there's no telling when he can lift Russia's economy...

      Pensions are one of those "damned if you do, damned if don't" political issues. He probably can't afford to keep the system the way it is and there's no telling when he can lift Russia's economy back up again, but this could still be a costly political move in the short term.

      2 votes
      1. Kijafa
        Link Parent
        I'd imagine he assumes people are sufficiently distracted for him to pull it off, and time will tell if he's right.

        I'd imagine he assumes people are sufficiently distracted for him to pull it off, and time will tell if he's right.

        2 votes
    2. [4]
      hahaheehaha
      Link Parent
      If you watch Putin's Revenge on Frontline, they mention that he is haunted of images of Arab Spring toppling leaders and killing them. His domestic problems are 100% the thing he worries about the...

      If you watch Putin's Revenge on Frontline, they mention that he is haunted of images of Arab Spring toppling leaders and killing them. His domestic problems are 100% the thing he worries about the most.

      2 votes
      1. [3]
        Kijafa
        Link Parent
        That tends to be the case with most authoritarian leaders. Ultimately they are powerful only so long as they can keep people in line. It's like the Game of Thrones parable of the sellsword.

        That tends to be the case with most authoritarian leaders. Ultimately they are powerful only so long as they can keep people in line. It's like the Game of Thrones parable of the sellsword.

        1. [2]
          json
          Link Parent
          The rules for rulers say you need to stack the deck in your favour with people who support you.

          The rules for rulers say you need to stack the deck in your favour with people who support you.

          1 vote
          1. Kijafa
            Link Parent
            Yup, great video lol. I thought that was a good description of why people who overthrow tyrants also tend to become tyrants.

            Yup, great video lol.

            I thought that was a good description of why people who overthrow tyrants also tend to become tyrants.

  2. nil-admirari
    Link
    Domestic politics — not tension with the U.S. — poses the biggest threat to Putin.

    Domestic politics — not tension with the U.S. — poses the biggest threat to Putin.

    3 votes