Putin's Russia

Russia's Role Today Is in One Man's Hands

Russia today has an important role in almost every sphere of international foreign affairs. From Islamic fundamentalism to the war on terror, world security, nuclear materials, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, energy distribution and counterbalancing China, Russia has put itself squarely in the middle of things. Will the Russia-U.S. alliance against terrorism continue? Given that Russia has yet to break through and deconstruct the allure of personified power by fully establishing independent political institutions and the overall rule of law, the answer most likely depends on the leadership of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

In many ways, Putin is where the rivers of yesterday and the streams of tomorrow converge. He is a symbol of both continuity and change. Some Russians see Putin as a link with the past of Boris Yeltsin, while others consider him a sharp departure. In some ways, Putin is clearly different. In his late 40s, he is remarkably young for a Russian leader. He does not play the monarch and, instead, prefers to be viewed as a pragmatic leader and manager. He achieved order within his country and initiated...