Suchergebnisse

Analyzes implications of President Putin's federal centralization reforms.

Vladimir Putin remains central to regime stability in the Russian Federation. However, the role that Mr. Putin's personalist appeal—rooted in both charismatic and noncharismatic linkages—plays in maintaining regime support is undertheorized. I argue that personalism is a powerful political resource in electoral authoritarian regimes because it provides a positive logic for skeptical voters to support the leader. Personalist linkages obscure the role that electoral bias plays in shaping electoral outcomes, diminishing the impulse for mass postelection protest. When the effectiveness of personalism declines, discontented citizens are more likely to protest biased elections. This article shows that Mr. Putin's appeal as a sound steward of the economy declined by 2012 but that other sources of issue satisfaction continued to shape some respondents' trust in the president.

Examines dimensions of Russia's foreign policy from Yeltsin to Putin; discusses "Euroatlantism," economic conditions, military and arms policy, role of the president, foreign minister, and Duma, and influence of entrepreneurs and financial groups; 5 articles.

Reports on Vladimir Putin's visit to the Middle East to regain Russian influence in the region.