Vladimir Putin – from autocracy to dictatorship (version 2)
Note: This short essay (an assignment in a course about Russian History) was written before the Russian invasion of the Ukraine
The Rise of Putin: From Oligarchic Support to Autocratic Rule
When Vladimir Putin emerged as the paramount force within the realms of Russia, it was upon the shoulders of the oligarchs, the nouveau riche of the post-communist era, that he ascended. As time spiralled forward, these once-powerful allies metamorphosed into Putin’s most vociferous critics and potent threats. Consequently, many of these titans of industry and wealth found themselves coerced into exile, their accumulated fortunes a mere remnant of their once dubious wealth. Their vacated seats of power and influence were hastily filled with Putin’s chosen and trusted oligarchs, establishing a new order of wealth and power.
The Evolution of Russian Governance under Putin
Recently, an unnerving shift has been discernible within the corridors of Russian governance. What once was a system veiled by the trappings of autocracy now treads ever-closer to a barefaced dictatorship. Putin, who has carved his name into history as the second-longest serving European president, seems cemented in his role. The alternative would be to topple the precarious edifice of oligarchic corruption that sustains his rule. …