Politics

Understanding Putin’s Popularity

For many Russians, Putin has returned Russia to greatness, and if that has meant disengagement with the West, it is a price worth paying. Russians remember the economic hardship and lack of public order, criminality, and chaos that occurred during the administration of Boris Yeltsin, coupled with the blows to prestige coming with the loss of empire. Very few Russians want a return of that era. In short, for all the loss of personal liberties, most Russians consider themselves and their country in a better position after 15 years of the Putin era. Absent some unexpected event, it appears Putin will win another six-year term when the next Russian presidential election takes place in 2018.