Weak strongman : the limits of power in Putin's Russia / Timothy Frye

Even as Russia's prominence and importance in global affairs has increased, media discussion tends analyze Russian politics in one of two ways: as a direct manifestation of Putin's will, or through the lens of Russia's unique history and culture. In fixating on these interpretative lenses that emphasize Russia "exceptional," we fail to recognize that its policies and practices are actually remarkably similar to those of other autocracies around the world. Drawing from decades of research and field work and from time spent in Russia as part of the US foreign service, Frye demonstrates how a broader lens gives us a much better way to interpret and predict Russian's political behavior. Specifically, this comparative approach helps illuminate the underappreciated limits to power in Putin's Russia. Like other autocracies, Putin and his government face important tradeoffs (implement policies that help the elites and risk a popular uprising? Or implement popular policies and risk an elite coup?) that limit his power and force him to use a much broader set of tools than just the repression.

Synthesizing a wealth of social science in a lively, accessible type, Frye shows how this framing can help answer some central questions: is Putin actually popular in Russia, or is his popularity a result of propaganda or coercion? How does repression function in Russia? If and how are Russia's elections manipulated-and why is Russia now focused on interfering with elections abroad? The answers, Frye shows, help us understand how much we miss when we focus solely on Putin in understanding Russia today.