Weak Strongman: The Limits of Power in Putin's Russia

Description

Looking beyond Putin to understand how today's Russia actually works Media and public discussion tends to understand Russian politics as a direct reflection of Vladimir Putin's seeming omnipotence or Russia's unique history and culture. Yet Russia is remarkably similar to other autocracies-and recognizing this illuminates the inherent limits to

Timothy Frye is the Marshall D. Shulman Professor of Post-Soviet Foreign Policy at Columbia University and a research director at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. His books include Property Rights and Property Wrongs: How Power, Institutions, and Norms Shape Economic Conflict in Russia and Building States and Markets after Communism: The Perils of Polarized Democracy. He lives in New York City. Twitter @timothymfrye

"Shortlisted for the Pushkin House Russian Book Prize" "[Frye's] research is impressive. This timely, evidence-based account persuades." * Publishers Weekly * "With deft prose, deep and insightful analysis, and considerable supporting evidence, Frye not only counters, but dismantles, the overly simplistic and lazy narratives of Russia under Putin."---Joshua Huminski, Diplomatic Courier "Frye's splendid book is a major contribution to the literature."---Alexander Brakel, Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs