Marx famously observed that when history repeats itself it comes first as tragedy and then as farce. Likewise, Adam Ulam, one of the founding giants of Russian studies in the US, wrote, “Russian history is tragic and glorious, but also preposterous.” Vladimir Putin’s cult of personality long since transcended the farcical to become utterly preposterous. […]
Staunton, October 18 – Polls show that a higher percentage of Russians believe in Vladimir Putin than believe in God, but those figures are less about political support than the desire to find a savior – and, if the experience of other countries including the United States is any guide, almost certainly will dissipate quickly, […]
Staunton, June 8 – Much of the public support in Russia for Vladimir Putin reflects the fact that his actions allow Russians to believe if only for a time that their country is once again a great power even though they fully understand that Russia is not in a position to be one the equal […]
