The Putin Era Turns 25
This month marks a quarter century since Vladimir Putin first took office, following the resignation of Boris Yeltsin. During this time, Russia has undergone a transformation from a country seeking integration with the West to a authoritarian state waging war on its own people and in Ukraine. The regime, built on a tacit pact between the Kremlin and the Russian people, has crushed opposition and dissent, with many forced to live in fear of arrest.
Putin’s rise to power was gradual, with the backing of Russia’s oligarchs and the population’s desire for peace after the turbulent 1990s. The first sign of his growing influence was his launch of a war against Chechnya in 1999, which boosted his popularity. He has since maintained power through a combination of manipulation, coercion, and manipulation of the media.
Over the years, Putin has surrounded himself with former members of Yeltsin’s administration, including Sergey Kiriyenko, Sergei Shoigu, and Sergey Lavrov. These figures have played crucial roles in shaping Russia’s foreign policy and consolidating Putin’s grip on power.
Key moments in Putin’s rule include the re-nomination of Putin in 2011, which led to the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas in 2014, and the constitutional reform in 2020, which cleared the way for Putin to remain president until 2036.
The regime is waging war on two fronts: externally against Ukraine, and internally against its own people. Despite the war, support for Putin remains broad, but fragile, and can be fragile if based on simple conformism and loyalty to whoever is in power. Many Russians have been forced to adopt a “fetal position,” avoiding discussion of the war and repression in order to maintain a sense of normalcy.
Philosopher Zygmunt Bauman has written about the concept of “retropia,” or the dream of an ideal future state based on nostalgia for an unreal past. Putin’s regime is built on this idea, using rhetoric about past imperial glory and “the defense of traditional values” to justify its policies.
However, the foundations of the regime are shaking. The country is experiencing a phase of “wild Putinism,” with open clashes between different factions, and the rule of law is becoming increasingly unstable. Political scientist Tatiana Stanovaya warns that the regime is facing an unstable scenario, with imprisonments, compromising evidence, and attacks becoming the main way of survival.
As the Putin era enters its 26th year, it is clear that the regime’s grip on power is faltering. The Russian people are increasingly disillusioned, and the war in Ukraine is dragging on. The world is watching to see how the situation will unfold, and whether Putin will maintain his hold on power or finally succumb to the forces of change.
