Watch PBS Frontline "Putin's Way" and then comment below on what your opinion is of Putin. What do you think of Putin as a leader? What do you think about his role on the world stage?
Katelyn Wolfgang: Putin seems to be a good leader. He is a corrupt leader along with his government; however, he knows how to play the field to keep himself and his friends out of trouble. He doesn't seem to actually care about his people but more about himself especially with the large palace that he had built but claimed was not his doing. If he was the one to initial the bombings of the apartment buildings, it was well planned because they quickly destroyed the evidence, found someone to blame, and stopped the people who did investigate. He does seem to have a large effect on the world what with selling oil and making laundering deals in Germany and Britain. The training he learned in KGB on how to trick people truly shows when he managed to make Bush believe he would help westernize Russia. While I don't like or agree with Putin and what he has done, you do have to admit he knows what he is doing as a criminal at least.
Putin is can be seen as a good and bad leader. On the positive side, under Putin, Russia's economy has grown exponentially. In 2000, the GDP per capita in Russia was about $1,700. In 2008, just eight years after Putin stepped in as president, the GDP per capita rose to about $12,000. Putin's other accomplishments include restoring Chechnya and boosting national pride which I believe were great feats.
On the negative side, Putin seems to be turning Russia into a much more authoritarian country. Putin has taken away certain freedoms of assembly, and press. An example of this is the Russian "Blogger Law". This law states that any blog with over 3,000 visitors a day must register with the government under "mass media". This makes these blogs prone to government censorship. The Blogger Law is just an example of how the government under Putin uses extended power to have control over citizens. According to the video, I also believe that Putin is very corrupt and causes the Russian government to be corrupt. Especially with the laundering deals in Britain and Germany.
Putin has a lot of control over his country and the world. This is because of Russia's economic wealth. Russia contains about 30% of the world's resources, especially oil. Because of Russia's economic wealth, Putin has access to a large sum of money. Also, because of a history of isolationism Putin may be be getting away with some of his authoritarianism actions because they may be seen as protection for Russian citizens. I admire Putin's success, however, I do not admire the fact that he takes away rights of citizens that are vital to freedom.
Putin is great leader. He so strong. So Manly. Fight Bear and West. Kill Bear. Destroy West. He lead to Russia 2 greatness. Make women so happy at nite. Russia so proud. Much bravery.
Putin is a terrible leader. His regime is fraying it at its seam and ready to collapse at any given moment. The Russian military is pathetic and its nuclear arsenal is in such disrepair that it could not retaliate if the United States and NATO allies were to attack first. Russia's people are, in general, incredibly poor and the overwhelming majority of wealth is held by a few corrupt power brokers. These oligarchs, as they are known, are not only rich, but have obtained most of their wealth with the help of corrupt government actors.
Because Putin is such a terrible and weak leader, unable to quell civil unrest or even Pussy Riot he must feign the act of the strong men, riding horses half-naked and working out. On the world stage, the Russian military is an utter failure and has suffered defeats at the hands of Ukrainian rebels time and time again, rebels who are poorly armed, poorly equipped, detached from supply lines and act with the orders of the a central military authority. Russia's involvement in Syria has also been a failure as well. The Pentagon reports that Russian airstrikes are inaccurate more often than not missing their targets or killing civilians as their primitive military lacks true precision, laser-guided armaments that are standard-issue on US aircraft.
In regards to ISIS, the Russian response has been even more pathetic. Despite ISIS' geographic proximity to Russia's unguarded southern border (a border all ready strained in the East by ethnic tensions with Georgians) Russia has been unable to defeat ISIS or roll its territory back. In contrast, the US air campaign against ISIS has comprised over 90% of airstrikes on ISIS territory and have worked in conjunction with local ground forces (ex: Kurds in Sinjar) to roll back ISI territory. To date, the area of ISIS occupied territory, according to latest DOD estimates, has decreased by around 25% as a result of the American air campaigns.
Contrary to popular narratives spun by the media, Putin is not a strong leader. He is not projecting Russian power on the world stage; he is projecting the weaknesses of Russia’s technologically-backwards military, a phenomenon countless Russian leaders before (Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Ivan IV, Nicolas Romanov, Lenin, Gorbachev, etc.) As a result of his incompetence and instability within his regime, Putin plays the role of a strong, uncompromising leader, directing the national spotlight towards Russian skirmishes at the fringes of its territory (Crimea, Syria, etc.) to distract the public’s attention from the political instability and widespread poverty back on the Homefront.
I don't think that Putin has been a good leader for the people of Russia. The biggest issue is that his interest in a totalitarian and authoritative form of government is different from the people's growing desire for a democracy, leading to conflicts within Russia. Putin's involvement in the heavy corruption that has been a part of Russia's politics and economy has put him in a position where he has to protect himself and continue down a path of authoritarian rule and secret activities. I think that the shoot down of the Malaysian plane has hurt Putin's world standing as the video showed him eating his lunch alone and friendless at the G20 conference. Though many believe that Putin has held Russia together and that Russians aren't ready to be democratic, I still am not convinced that the path that Putin is taking Russia is an effective one.
Putin is a controversial leader, he is both good and bad at what he does. He is clever and very good at holding power and preventing political takeovers, essentially since he took office in 2000 he has not had a break from calling the shots in Russia. Russia is to some extent Putin's play thing. In this regard Putin is a very good leader, he has an agenda, albeit a very corrupt one, and he sticks to it, and to be fair he gets it done how he wants it. However, he is a bad leader in that his agenda does lead to some pretty remarkable wealth inequality. I believe the documentary said that the average citizen in Russia actually makes less than an Indian citizen I was a little surprised especially given the resources Russia has in its borders. In conclusion, Putin's role in international affairs can be seen on different levels, he is the head of state of a wealthy(by resources) nation and Russia's geographic position and involvement with the Middle East cause them to quite frequently play into global politics. However, Putin's approval rating it seems in much of the world is poor with it known that his government is very corrupt and struggles to maintain itself even within its own borders.
I personally think that Putin is a corrupt politician, however, there are corrupt politicians everywhere. All corruption aside however, he is a good leader. He is persuasive, manipulative, and good at covering his tracks. His experience in the KGB definitely aided him in his prime minister reign and presidency, and he obviously knows how to make his way to the top effectively and quickly. However a lot of Russian scandals point to him, including the apartment bombing and cases of missing money in the government. So yes, as I stated before, he is most definitely a corrupt president, but there is no denying he is a good leader. Referring to foreign policy, again he is good at manipulation and other tactics because of his time in the KBG and time spent in many different cultures. However, in most recent years his relationship with other foreign officials has obviously faltered due to the shoot down of MH17.
Although Putin successfully managed to rise to power in a matter of years and became Russia's "president", he is by no means a good leader. His ability to maintain power may be excellent, but his failure to hold a country together has led to a wave of bitter hatred towards the former KGB man, mostly by his own people. The main reasons for this reluctance are his corruption and unfulfilled promises. A westernized Russia? No much for that, Russia is leaning more to a totalitarian state rather than anything even remotely related to a democracy. Elimination of poverty? The statistics shown in the video were truly astonishing. 110 Russians own 35% of the wealth in the country. While a massive portion of the rest remain as beggars on the streets of Moscow. Putin has constantly failed to fulfill his promises due to nothing less than greed. He is involved in a variety of corrupt practices, one of which even brought him prosperity... in the form of a mansion. A selfish and brutal leader who prefers protection of his good friends rather than that of the country. His feats do not balance out with the atrocities he has caused, including an outrageous and uncalled-for war. As the people of Russia remain with him until 2024, his "leadership" will continue to harass and destroy the western values that many of the Russian people have so longed to enjoy.
As a leader, Putin is strong yet corrupt. His ability to manipulate, appeal to "vulnerable" Western leaders, and mask his secrets contribute to his strength. The fact that he has gained the support of United Russia and adequately strays away from accusations of corruption shows that he is smart in the sense that he protects himself from losing power. However, Putin is undeniably a fraudulent ruler. His channeling of money for himself, resulting in a $40 billion dollar sum, serves to show how he is seen as "God" by the proxies who obey his orders and succumb to his manipulation. Moreover, case 144 128 and the scandal with Snag are further evidence of his corruption and dishonesty to the Russian people. Lastly, his promises of democracy are minimal next to his advancement towards an increasingly totalitarian government. Putin's role on the world stage is quite interesting. I agreed with the assertion in the video that the more Britain is receptive to Putin, the more Putin will take advantage of the country. It is not safe for the West to show they are on good terms with a leader who lies to his people, is a crook, and cares little for the implementation of democratic ideals. However, it is also scary for Western leaders to isolate him as they did at the G20 meeting in Australia because he in fact is a "mouse" that may act dangerously if pushed away. Overall, Putin's manipulation of leaders with his "charm" and "threats" only proves to be unfavorable to its victims.
I think Putin is a very strong leader, but I am not commending his actions. He is a corrupt man who lets the government and all it's employees remain corrupt. I do not know of any politician revered for his leadership if only 110 people have 35% of the money. Like before, I am willing to say that he is a strong leader; he knows how to work the system he runs in order to get the most benefits. However, the game he is playing now seems to be leading to a future revolution or change in government that will have drastic affects for Russia. I am not sure that he would politically (or even physically) survive that. In terms of Putin in the world stage, he used to be a more powerful enemy/ally than he is today. As more and more scandals appear, Putin will lose more and more of his support. What does this mean for a world stage? If Western leaders support a revolution or movement against Putin, he seems to be in trouble. As the years progress, I can only imagine that his power will continue to decrease in world politics as Russia becomes more and more corrupt and more intolerant to the various ethnic groups (like the Chechnya).
As a leader, I think Putin can be seen as both good and bad. He may be corrupt but his leading style gives him the ability to get things done quickly. A government that acts decisively like this can sometimes be a good thing. He has also helped the economy during his time in office, which is usually an indicator of a good leader.
Because Putin is in charge of one of the most powerful countries in the wold, Russia commonly plays a large role in world affairs. This combined with Putins views that usually contradict other world powers views, leads to clashes between Russia and other powerful countries. Putins role is somewhat detrimental right now, because he is helping a syrian dictator just to keep a naval base for his country in the Mediterranean. Also, he lead Russia to cause more problems in the Crimea during the past several years.
Overall, Putin seems like a bad leader. It is obvious that he is very talented at politics; after all, he will be president for four terms with virtually no opposition. He has total control of the government, and while this might seem like a trait of a good leader, I don't believe it is. Even though he has so much power, the extent to which he abused it leaves him in a very vulnerable place should he ever lose it. For this reason, and the state of current world affairs, it seems like he's backed into corner. It was very telling about how things are going for Russia when he was eating lunch alone at the G20 Summit. I don't think a strong leader would be so distanced from other world leaders, nor would a strong leader have a lower average wealth than India. He has relied far too much on oil for economic growth, and when oil crashed, his economy did as well. Although, the role of Russia on the world stage seems to be increasing as of recently. The terror attacks in Paris have led to a hopeful, but still uncertain, partnership between the U.S. and Russia in fighting ISIS which will definitely serve Russia's interests in the region.
The authoritarian state has grown under Putin as well. I don't think the continued centralization of power is a sustainable model in the modern world; in fact, I think the huge power placed in the President might come to hurt him if his successor isn't loyal, which is a very real possibility considering the growing civil unrest.
In general, Putin appears to be a bad leader. He has little regard for his relationship with other world leaders, nor the well being of his own people. As a major world power, Putin and Russia seem to be an obstacle to resolving conflicts in places like the Middle East. The West, and Russia lack the ability to come to a compromise when it comes to many situations, including Ukraine, and Syria.
Though, it must be noted that Putin is a great politician, managing to be President with little to no opposition for almost four terms. He also has gained full control of the government, with many of the decisions coming down to him. However, he has used corruption to control things to his personal agenda, such as the media, the other members of the government, and creating an overall much more authoritarian state.
The power placed upon Putin, as president, leaves an unstable government. If the next President isn't inline with his agenda or ideals, then it could turn to hurt Putin. There is a very real possibility of this occurring in the next election, especially with the civil unrest under Putins rule.
Putin is a corrupt politician, with evidence showing his corrpution as early as his days as the Deputy Mayor of St. Petersburg. The fact that he has built a $40 Billion personal wealth off a corrupt government system is ridiculous, but it does show how powerful and influential of a politician he really is. Yet despite this, Putin has put forth new legislation that has strengthened Russia's economy and helped escalate Russia back onto the world stage after the fall of the Soviet Union. Russia's presence in world politics is rather important, especially with the country being involved in violence with Chechnya and more recently in Ukraine, and with the downing of MH17 last year. However, it seems that Putin doesn't seem interested in "socializing" with other world leaders, evident by the empty lunch table at the G20 summit in 2014. This lack of communication will probably lead to trouble in the future.
At the end of the day, Putin is a trained KGB spy. He can easily deceive people into a sort-of false sense of security, hiding his corruption and any questionable actions from the Russian citizens. While he has done this, he has also done many things to improve the Russian economy and society, many things that have helped the a majority (but certainly not all) of Russia's citizens.
Putin seems to be a very strong and powerful leader, however, with very corrupt and poor intentions. He was able to rise in power from being a KGB officer to becoming president, using his past in the KGB to his advantage. He also seems to be capable of gaining widespread support from the people when he needs to. However, many of his actions are selfish and bad for Russia and the people. 110 people hold 35% of Russia's wealth, and many Russian people are in deep poverty, which are not characteristics of effective leadership and policy. Overall, Putin is very smart and can effectively and secretly manipulate the system to benefit himself at the expense of the Russian people. He is a strong leader; however he is very corrupt and selfishly uses his power. Given Russia's history of prevalence in global affairs, I think Putin has an important role on the world stage, especially given Russia's importance in the world economy. However, I think his corruption is becoming increasingly prevalent to other world leaders which is decreasing his global influence. Democratic leaders will also increasingly disapprove of Putin's leadership as he is continuing to become more authoritarian.
I feel that Putin is a terrible leader. Instead helping his country prosper he has let it degrade for his on selfish gains. He has caused hardships in Russia that maybe could have been avoided if he had tried to help the Russian people instead of himself. But with hat he has done it efficiently. A corrupt leader that he may be he is definitely a powerful one. He has gotten many things done even if they were wrong he got them done. I feel if he had the right motives he could be one of the greatest leaders out there.
I feel that Putin's role in the world stage is something that he hasn't desired but has brought upon himself. He has been pushing the western countries constantly whilst they are trying to be friendly. But he has ended up pushing them too far and this has hurt him.
As a leader, Putin fails to prove how he is doing well for his country. Amidst all the corruption and scandal, there seems to be only one outcome for Russia, and that is its eventual demise underneath the policies of Putin. However, Putin remains an effective and calculated politician, being able to climb through the ranks of bureaucracy with haste.
Putin's role on the world stage is something that will be more heavily scrutinized with the recent developments concerning ISIL, and his interactions with Europe and America in particular will be seriously reevaluated in the years to come. In the broader context, Putin seems to be trying to reassert his own dominance, but fails to do so.
I think Putin is a very smart man, only because he has figured out a way to manipulate so many people. He was able to convince an entire country that he was capable of becoming a leader through his government manipulating a "terrorist attack" then postponing elections so that Putin could grow his political base. With him in office he is able to get stuff done quickly, unlike a democracy were it takes a long time to get things done. On the world stage he is seen as more of a dictator in comparison to other leaders. He is seen as impulsive as seen in his actions toward Syria. He has made more enemies in his time as president and prime minster towards the rest of the world.
Personally I like Putin, I think what he has done in Russia is hilarious. The video estimated his net worth to be around 40 billion. More recent estimates have established a figure in the realm of 70-200 billion $. This is mostly from bribes and money laundering. The fact that he has been able to stay in power is amazing. Or is it? This transitions into the question of Putin being an effective leader. This is a difficult question to ask. One could argue yes, because he has been able to stay in power for so long. Every time his legitimacy is called into question he stages some sort of attack that invigorates Russians’ to support their own inner nationalist. However one could also argue know because, yes he has remained in power, but he has done this in Russia. The video also suggested that maybe the Russian people don’t actually want to be a democracy. Maybe they don’t care what system Russia uses because it doesn’t really impact their daily lives. Russia has for a long time been a nation of isolationists. Isolationism is embedded in Russian culture, and it will continue to be as long as Putin or someone like him remains in power.
I think that Putin is a strong leader. He's smart and deceiving. Putin has managed to accumulate an estimated $40 billion of personal wealth from the corrupt government. He's been able to stay in power for such long time, with little support from the citizens of Russia, it makes you wonder how it's possible that he was re-elected? Everyone knows that it's because he has manipulated others in order to rises to power, but are too afraid to make a real case of it. Putin has driven Russia to being isolated from other leading nations, because of his actions. Though he has helped the economy in the time he's been in presidency. He holds to much power and is not using it for the correct reasons. In terms of Putin's role on the world stage, I believe that as Putin's corruption grows, more nations will disapprove and will eventually try to intervene and try to stop him. If that does occur and all of Putin's and the governments secrets will only cause him trouble. Putin at the moment is the only reason Russia has been able together, but if he leaves Russia's in trouble.
The state of Russian affairs is in a state of dismay. Vladimir Putin, a modern Dictator and criminal, is at the head of its issues. The amount of laundering, corruption, and shadow crimes committed under his agenda are so outstanding, it is hard to believe a man like this has remained in power for this long. But in a state of mass propaganda, which targets and victimizes almost every Russian is the key to his success. He simply has too much power, and is not willing to give any of it up without force, or revolution. But I do not feel like this will happen any time in the near future. The people of Russia are so used to being taken care of by an authoritarian leader, that the idea and policy of Democracy is just too far-fetched in their national sentiment. This has lead to Russia as being one of the most controversial topics in global affairs. They almost always seem to be on the other side of every western affair, ranging from Syria to Ukraine, to straight up government policy. Russia seems to be taking more and more steps towards an autocracy with the collapse of every prior system of government. This makes for alot of political and civil unrest which gives way to cunning leaders such as Vladimir. And Vladimir doesn't have regard for anyone but himself and his political ties. undermining any attempt to slander and bring forth evidence of his evil deeds. These actions will only result in further isolation from the world, and more authoritarian power granted to Putin.
I found it interesting that Putin's government was seen more as a successful authoritarian one than a failing democratic one. In my opinion Putin is a very good leader because he has, for some reason, maintained the ability to win election after election, even as a criminal. Why the Russians continue to put their trust in someone who is stealing from them everyday is beyond me because Putin has managed to accumulate $40 billion for himself out of their pockets. Whatever Putin is doing in his country is working, however, his disgusting ways have cost him immense isolation from the rest of the world. Putin's corruption will continue to grow and cost the nation as a whole in extremely bad ways. -Emily Roché
Putin's demonstration of successful leadership could have created a brainwashing-type effect on the community and how they view their government. Although he has distorted backdoor deals among different countries, such as the laundering in Germany, these proofs of his unfair position don't afflict the people. But, to others not under his rule, this irresponsible and rigidly structured "leader" is noticeably irrational. At a conference he is even seen by other leaders as one not to mess with. As for those who do communicate with Putin, it's by force during whatever criminal acts they consider useful.
Vladimir Putin is a genius. He has manipulated his governments laws and constitution to make sure that he is always in a position of power. He doesn't seem to care about his people or anyone that he has no relationship with. This is a dangerous man, with almost complete control over one of the most powerful militaries in the world save the US. We need to find a way to make sure that he doesn't view us as a threat, or make sure that he doesn't keep power for very long. As things are, and as I think they are going, tensions between the US and Russia and definitely going down, but they are still very high in terms of international relations. Putin is dangerous and we definitely want him on our side in the world.
Vladimir Putin is the epitome of determination. He is one of the few men in European history to go from working a low ranked position to a dicta- a president! He strategically used the people around him (e.g. his college professor), built strong relationships ensuring that he would be able to avoid getting trouble, and then took over their political positions. Putin's determination was also displayed in the documentary regarding the food crisis Russia endured. Putin's solution was to import tons of food material from other countries which seemed like an impossible task, and it was because not even a grain of rice was brought to Russia. However, Putin's bravery to even attempt to complete the task was admirable. He also protects his friends: when his mentor, Sobchak was under pressure due to speculation of corruption, Putin got him out of the situation. Putin has also had a few "oopsies" in his time as dicta- President/Prime minister of Russia. E.g. when he was a politician who was unheard of in Russia and was running for President, Putin's method of drawing attention to himself was very explosive. He used the Chechen's to make Russian citizens believe it was their doing when it was really the FSB. It resulted in Putin coming out of nowhere swearing to destroy Chechnya, and he did with brutal force. All in all, Putin has displayed is drive for power whether it's favored by the people or not. It shows the reader that as a leader, he follows his own schedule regardless of what others think and also regardless of whether it is allowed or not. Gerald Bonsu
Putin may have been able to expand the economy and also have many other successes as President, but that does not justify all his other corruption and scandals. There is no control over his power and he wants more and more of it every day. There is little to none checks and balances when it comes to him. He loves the power which is another reason for him building his palace. Also, Putin has many scandals such as the apartment bombing. Putin may have had a couple of success, but that shouldn't mean that Russia should have an immoral and corrupt president. Putin is not a strong global leader. He has put in very little efforts to stop ISIS and he has only shown his interest for himself and Russia. That might make him a strong national leader, he is not a successful global leader.
There is no doubt in the fact that Putin is an extremely powerful man, however in no way would I consider him a good leader. On his rise to presidency, he was able to gain a wide range of support to lead Russia to a better state. However, he has done exactly opposite. Yes, he has had some recognizable accomplishments in the past, but nothing covers the selfish and brutal acts he continues to show. If he wasn't so worried about himself and took into regards the people of his country, he could be a very powerful leader with everything he has behind him. - CHRIS MOORE
Putin is a horrible leader. He is powerful, but corrupt. The country is run by oligarchs and overall the population is very poor. Russia's effort against ISIS has been weak and overall has a weak military in general considering the trouble they have with poorly equipped rebels of Ukraine. Putin only publicizes what he wants us to hear, which is he is a powerful leader. He may be powerful, but is not strong. He has gained his power through scandals and immorality. Russia not joining NATO makes them look weaker. At this point, he has certainly shown he does not care about the people of russia or anyone else for that matter.
On the surface, Putin appears to be a good leader. He has expanded Russia's economy and made them a world power. However, Putin is also corrupt in his ways and does not seem to actually care about his people and their needs.
Due to Russia's economy, Putin has a large control on most of the world. Russia's wealth combined with Putin's corruption, allows smaller countries to be influenced and used to his demand.
Putin is a ballsy leader and is someone that I have to respect even though I hate him. He seems to constantly bully everyone on the world stage even though he has a failing economy. He is smart enough to manipulate an entire government to work the way he likes. He has basically become the dictator of Russia as he puts his own friends as his opponents and just takes whatever he likes. Putin only shows his what he wants them to see and its ridiculous. He claims to have an amazing military but he still is unable be effective against ISIS. The worst thing is he took Ukraine just because he felt like it. Also after he endorsed Trump he just seemed disappointing like of course you like the idiot that thinks he can kick Muslims out of the US. Although Putin is able to manipulate people all the time he still has fundamental issues that he can't run his 1 dimensional country that solely relies on oil that is steadily dropping in value. He acts big but in reality he is nothing.
Putin has done a great job of manipulating the government. He has gained immense respect and almost brainwashed those who follow him. he is without a doubt a smart leader and has gotten almost whatever he desires. He utilizes the good things he has accomplished such as expanding their economy and their world power status to cover up the corrupt government he has created. Without any respect for the people of Russia and their actual needs, he continues to rule Russia and influence other countries. His denial to joining NATO is just another example of how he ha no care for his own people. Putin has also failed in protecting his country against ISIS. Russia would be even more powerful if their leader wasnt so selfish and actually took the people into consideration. Not a persuasive leader who will never suffer the consequences of his corrupt ways. -Madison Johnston
Katelyn Wolfgang:
ReplyDeletePutin seems to be a good leader. He is a corrupt leader along with his government; however, he knows how to play the field to keep himself and his friends out of trouble. He doesn't seem to actually care about his people but more about himself especially with the large palace that he had built but claimed was not his doing. If he was the one to initial the bombings of the apartment buildings, it was well planned because they quickly destroyed the evidence, found someone to blame, and stopped the people who did investigate. He does seem to have a large effect on the world what with selling oil and making laundering deals in Germany and Britain. The training he learned in KGB on how to trick people truly shows when he managed to make Bush believe he would help westernize Russia. While I don't like or agree with Putin and what he has done, you do have to admit he knows what he is doing as a criminal at least.
Putin is can be seen as a good and bad leader. On the positive side, under Putin, Russia's economy has grown exponentially. In 2000, the GDP per capita in Russia was about $1,700. In 2008, just eight years after Putin stepped in as president, the GDP per capita rose to about $12,000. Putin's other accomplishments include restoring Chechnya and boosting national pride which I believe were great feats.
ReplyDeleteOn the negative side, Putin seems to be turning Russia into a much more authoritarian country. Putin has taken away certain freedoms of assembly, and press. An example of this is the Russian "Blogger Law". This law states that any blog with over 3,000 visitors a day must register with the government under "mass media". This makes these blogs prone to government censorship. The Blogger Law is just an example of how the government under Putin uses extended power to have control over citizens. According to the video, I also believe that Putin is very corrupt and causes the Russian government to be corrupt. Especially with the laundering deals in Britain and Germany.
Putin has a lot of control over his country and the world. This is because of Russia's economic wealth. Russia contains about 30% of the world's resources, especially oil. Because of Russia's economic wealth, Putin has access to a large sum of money. Also, because of a history of isolationism Putin may be be getting away with some of his authoritarianism actions because they may be seen as protection for Russian citizens. I admire Putin's success, however, I do not admire the fact that he takes away rights of citizens that are vital to freedom.
Putin is great leader. He so strong. So Manly. Fight Bear and West. Kill Bear. Destroy West. He lead to Russia 2 greatness. Make women so happy at nite. Russia so proud. Much bravery.
ReplyDeletePutin is a terrible leader. His regime is fraying it at its seam and ready to collapse at any given moment. The Russian military is pathetic and its nuclear arsenal is in such disrepair that it could not retaliate if the United States and NATO allies were to attack first. Russia's people are, in general, incredibly poor and the overwhelming majority of wealth is held by a few corrupt power brokers. These oligarchs, as they are known, are not only rich, but have obtained most of their wealth with the help of corrupt government actors.
Because Putin is such a terrible and weak leader, unable to quell civil unrest or even Pussy Riot he must feign the act of the strong men, riding horses half-naked and working out. On the world stage, the Russian military is an utter failure and has suffered defeats at the hands of Ukrainian rebels time and time again, rebels who are poorly armed, poorly equipped, detached from supply lines and act with the orders of the a central military authority. Russia's involvement in Syria has also been a failure as well. The Pentagon reports that Russian airstrikes are inaccurate more often than not missing their targets or killing civilians as their primitive military lacks true precision, laser-guided armaments that are standard-issue on US aircraft.
In regards to ISIS, the Russian response has been even more pathetic. Despite ISIS' geographic proximity to Russia's unguarded southern border (a border all ready strained in the East by ethnic tensions with Georgians) Russia has been unable to defeat ISIS or roll its territory back. In contrast, the US air campaign against ISIS has comprised over 90% of airstrikes on ISIS territory and have worked in conjunction with local ground forces (ex: Kurds in Sinjar) to roll back ISI territory. To date, the area of ISIS occupied territory, according to latest DOD estimates, has decreased by around 25% as a result of the American air campaigns.
Contrary to popular narratives spun by the media, Putin is not a strong leader. He is not projecting Russian power on the world stage; he is projecting the weaknesses of Russia’s technologically-backwards military, a phenomenon countless Russian leaders before (Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Ivan IV, Nicolas Romanov, Lenin, Gorbachev, etc.) As a result of his incompetence and instability within his regime, Putin plays the role of a strong, uncompromising leader, directing the national spotlight towards Russian skirmishes at the fringes of its territory (Crimea, Syria, etc.) to distract the public’s attention from the political instability and widespread poverty back on the Homefront.
-Adriel Sumathipala
I don't think that Putin has been a good leader for the people of Russia. The biggest issue is that his interest in a totalitarian and authoritative form of government is different from the people's growing desire for a democracy, leading to conflicts within Russia. Putin's involvement in the heavy corruption that has been a part of Russia's politics and economy has put him in a position where he has to protect himself and continue down a path of authoritarian rule and secret activities. I think that the shoot down of the Malaysian plane has hurt Putin's world standing as the video showed him eating his lunch alone and friendless at the G20 conference. Though many believe that Putin has held Russia together and that Russians aren't ready to be democratic, I still am not convinced that the path that Putin is taking Russia is an effective one.
ReplyDeletePutin is a controversial leader, he is both good and bad at what he does. He is clever and very good at holding power and preventing political takeovers, essentially since he took office in 2000 he has not had a break from calling the shots in Russia. Russia is to some extent Putin's play thing. In this regard Putin is a very good leader, he has an agenda, albeit a very corrupt one, and he sticks to it, and to be fair he gets it done how he wants it. However, he is a bad leader in that his agenda does lead to some pretty remarkable wealth inequality. I believe the documentary said that the average citizen in Russia actually makes less than an Indian citizen I was a little surprised especially given the resources Russia has in its borders. In conclusion, Putin's role in international affairs can be seen on different levels, he is the head of state of a wealthy(by resources) nation and Russia's geographic position and involvement with the Middle East cause them to quite frequently play into global politics. However, Putin's approval rating it seems in much of the world is poor with it known that his government is very corrupt and struggles to maintain itself even within its own borders.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that Putin is a corrupt politician, however, there are corrupt politicians everywhere. All corruption aside however, he is a good leader. He is persuasive, manipulative, and good at covering his tracks. His experience in the KGB definitely aided him in his prime minister reign and presidency, and he obviously knows how to make his way to the top effectively and quickly.
ReplyDeleteHowever a lot of Russian scandals point to him, including the apartment bombing and cases of missing money in the government. So yes, as I stated before, he is most definitely a corrupt president, but there is no denying he is a good leader.
Referring to foreign policy, again he is good at manipulation and other tactics because of his time in the KBG and time spent in many different cultures. However, in most recent years his relationship with other foreign officials has obviously faltered due to the shoot down of MH17.
Although Putin successfully managed to rise to power in a matter of years and became Russia's "president", he is by no means a good leader. His ability to maintain power may be excellent, but his failure to hold a country together has led to a wave of bitter hatred towards the former KGB man, mostly by his own people.
ReplyDeleteThe main reasons for this reluctance are his corruption and unfulfilled promises. A westernized Russia? No much for that, Russia is leaning more to a totalitarian state rather than anything even remotely related to a democracy. Elimination of poverty? The statistics shown in the video were truly astonishing. 110 Russians own 35% of the wealth in the country. While a massive portion of the rest remain as beggars on the streets of Moscow. Putin has constantly failed to fulfill his promises due to nothing less than greed. He is involved in a variety of corrupt practices, one of which even brought him prosperity... in the form of a mansion.
A selfish and brutal leader who prefers protection of his good friends rather than that of the country. His feats do not balance out with the atrocities he has caused, including an outrageous and uncalled-for war. As the people of Russia remain with him until 2024, his "leadership" will continue to harass and destroy the western values that many of the Russian people have so longed to enjoy.
As a leader, Putin is strong yet corrupt. His ability to manipulate, appeal to "vulnerable" Western leaders, and mask his secrets contribute to his strength. The fact that he has gained the support of United Russia and adequately strays away from accusations of corruption shows that he is smart in the sense that he protects himself from losing power. However, Putin is undeniably a fraudulent ruler. His channeling of money for himself, resulting in a $40 billion dollar sum, serves to show how he is seen as "God" by the proxies who obey his orders and succumb to his manipulation. Moreover, case 144 128 and the scandal with Snag are further evidence of his corruption and dishonesty to the Russian people. Lastly, his promises of democracy are minimal next to his advancement towards an increasingly totalitarian government.
ReplyDeletePutin's role on the world stage is quite interesting. I agreed with the assertion in the video that the more Britain is receptive to Putin, the more Putin will take advantage of the country. It is not safe for the West to show they are on good terms with a leader who lies to his people, is a crook, and cares little for the implementation of democratic ideals. However, it is also scary for Western leaders to isolate him as they did at the G20 meeting in Australia because he in fact is a "mouse" that may act dangerously if pushed away. Overall, Putin's manipulation of leaders with his "charm" and "threats" only proves to be unfavorable to its victims.
I think Putin is a very strong leader, but I am not commending his actions. He is a corrupt man who lets the government and all it's employees remain corrupt. I do not know of any politician revered for his leadership if only 110 people have 35% of the money. Like before, I am willing to say that he is a strong leader; he knows how to work the system he runs in order to get the most benefits. However, the game he is playing now seems to be leading to a future revolution or change in government that will have drastic affects for Russia. I am not sure that he would politically (or even physically) survive that.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of Putin in the world stage, he used to be a more powerful enemy/ally than he is today. As more and more scandals appear, Putin will lose more and more of his support. What does this mean for a world stage? If Western leaders support a revolution or movement against Putin, he seems to be in trouble. As the years progress, I can only imagine that his power will continue to decrease in world politics as Russia becomes more and more corrupt and more intolerant to the various ethnic groups (like the Chechnya).
Laura Johnson
As a leader, I think Putin can be seen as both good and bad. He may be corrupt but his leading style gives him the ability to get things done quickly. A government that acts decisively like this can sometimes be a good thing. He has also helped the economy during his time in office, which is usually an indicator of a good leader.
ReplyDeleteBecause Putin is in charge of one of the most powerful countries in the wold, Russia commonly plays a large role in world affairs. This combined with Putins views that usually contradict other world powers views, leads to clashes between Russia and other powerful countries. Putins role is somewhat detrimental right now, because he is helping a syrian dictator just to keep a naval base for his country in the Mediterranean. Also, he lead Russia to cause more problems in the Crimea during the past several years.
Overall, Putin seems like a bad leader. It is obvious that he is very talented at politics; after all, he will be president for four terms with virtually no opposition. He has total control of the government, and while this might seem like a trait of a good leader, I don't believe it is. Even though he has so much power, the extent to which he abused it leaves him in a very vulnerable place should he ever lose it. For this reason, and the state of current world affairs, it seems like he's backed into corner. It was very telling about how things are going for Russia when he was eating lunch alone at the G20 Summit. I don't think a strong leader would be so distanced from other world leaders, nor would a strong leader have a lower average wealth than India. He has relied far too much on oil for economic growth, and when oil crashed, his economy did as well. Although, the role of Russia on the world stage seems to be increasing as of recently. The terror attacks in Paris have led to a hopeful, but still uncertain, partnership between the U.S. and Russia in fighting ISIS which will definitely serve Russia's interests in the region.
ReplyDeleteThe authoritarian state has grown under Putin as well. I don't think the continued centralization of power is a sustainable model in the modern world; in fact, I think the huge power placed in the President might come to hurt him if his successor isn't loyal, which is a very real possibility considering the growing civil unrest.
In general, Putin appears to be a bad leader. He has little regard for his relationship with other world leaders, nor the well being of his own people. As a major world power, Putin and Russia seem to be an obstacle to resolving conflicts in places like the Middle East. The West, and Russia lack the ability to come to a compromise when it comes to many situations, including Ukraine, and Syria.
ReplyDeleteThough, it must be noted that Putin is a great politician, managing to be President with little to no opposition for almost four terms. He also has gained full control of the government, with many of the decisions coming down to him. However, he has used corruption to control things to his personal agenda, such as the media, the other members of the government, and creating an overall much more authoritarian state.
The power placed upon Putin, as president, leaves an unstable government. If the next President isn't inline with his agenda or ideals, then it could turn to hurt Putin. There is a very real possibility of this occurring in the next election, especially with the civil unrest under Putins rule.
Eyad Hasan
Putin is a corrupt politician, with evidence showing his corrpution as early as his days as the Deputy Mayor of St. Petersburg. The fact that he has built a $40 Billion personal wealth off a corrupt government system is ridiculous, but it does show how powerful and influential of a politician he really is. Yet despite this, Putin has put forth new legislation that has strengthened Russia's economy and helped escalate Russia back onto the world stage after the fall of the Soviet Union. Russia's presence in world politics is rather important, especially with the country being involved in violence with Chechnya and more recently in Ukraine, and with the downing of MH17 last year. However, it seems that Putin doesn't seem interested in "socializing" with other world leaders, evident by the empty lunch table at the G20 summit in 2014. This lack of communication will probably lead to trouble in the future.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, Putin is a trained KGB spy. He can easily deceive people into a sort-of false sense of security, hiding his corruption and any questionable actions from the Russian citizens. While he has done this, he has also done many things to improve the Russian economy and society, many things that have helped the a majority (but certainly not all) of Russia's citizens.
Putin seems to be a very strong and powerful leader, however, with very corrupt and poor intentions. He was able to rise in power from being a KGB officer to becoming president, using his past in the KGB to his advantage. He also seems to be capable of gaining widespread support from the people when he needs to. However, many of his actions are selfish and bad for Russia and the people. 110 people hold 35% of Russia's wealth, and many Russian people are in deep poverty, which are not characteristics of effective leadership and policy. Overall, Putin is very smart and can effectively and secretly manipulate the system to benefit himself at the expense of the Russian people. He is a strong leader; however he is very corrupt and selfishly uses his power.
ReplyDeleteGiven Russia's history of prevalence in global affairs, I think Putin has an important role on the world stage, especially given Russia's importance in the world economy. However, I think his corruption is becoming increasingly prevalent to other world leaders which is decreasing his global influence. Democratic leaders will also increasingly disapprove of Putin's leadership as he is continuing to become more authoritarian.
I feel that Putin is a terrible leader. Instead helping his country prosper he has let it degrade for his on selfish gains. He has caused hardships in Russia that maybe could have been avoided if he had tried to help the Russian people instead of himself. But with hat he has done it efficiently. A corrupt leader that he may be he is definitely a powerful one. He has gotten many things done even if they were wrong he got them done. I feel if he had the right motives he could be one of the greatest leaders out there.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Putin's role in the world stage is something that he hasn't desired but has brought upon himself. He has been pushing the western countries constantly whilst they are trying to be friendly. But he has ended up pushing them too far and this has hurt him.
As a leader, Putin fails to prove how he is doing well for his country. Amidst all the corruption and scandal, there seems to be only one outcome for Russia, and that is its eventual demise underneath the policies of Putin. However, Putin remains an effective and calculated politician, being able to climb through the ranks of bureaucracy with haste.
ReplyDeletePutin's role on the world stage is something that will be more heavily scrutinized with the recent developments concerning ISIL, and his interactions with Europe and America in particular will be seriously reevaluated in the years to come. In the broader context, Putin seems to be trying to reassert his own dominance, but fails to do so.
-- Teddy Chu
I think Putin is a very smart man, only because he has figured out a way to manipulate so many people. He was able to convince an entire country that he was capable of becoming a leader through his government manipulating a "terrorist attack" then postponing elections so that Putin could grow his political base. With him in office he is able to get stuff done quickly, unlike a democracy were it takes a long time to get things done.
ReplyDeleteOn the world stage he is seen as more of a dictator in comparison to other leaders. He is seen as impulsive as seen in his actions toward Syria. He has made more enemies in his time as president and prime minster towards the rest of the world.
Personally I like Putin, I think what he has done in Russia is hilarious. The video estimated his net worth to be around 40 billion. More recent estimates have established a figure in the realm of 70-200 billion $. This is mostly from bribes and money laundering. The fact that he has been able to stay in power is amazing. Or is it? This transitions into the question of Putin being an effective leader. This is a difficult question to ask. One could argue yes, because he has been able to stay in power for so long. Every time his legitimacy is called into question he stages some sort of attack that invigorates Russians’ to support their own inner nationalist. However one could also argue know because, yes he has remained in power, but he has done this in Russia. The video also suggested that maybe the Russian people don’t actually want to be a democracy. Maybe they don’t care what system Russia uses because it doesn’t really impact their daily lives. Russia has for a long time been a nation of isolationists. Isolationism is embedded in Russian culture, and it will continue to be as long as Putin or someone like him remains in power.
ReplyDeleteI think that Putin is a strong leader. He's smart and deceiving. Putin has managed to accumulate an estimated $40 billion of personal wealth from the corrupt government. He's been able to stay in power for such long time, with little support from the citizens of Russia, it makes you wonder how it's possible that he was re-elected? Everyone knows that it's because he has manipulated others in order to rises to power, but are too afraid to make a real case of it. Putin has driven Russia to being isolated from other leading nations, because of his actions. Though he has helped the economy in the time he's been in presidency. He holds to much power and is not using it for the correct reasons.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of Putin's role on the world stage, I believe that as Putin's corruption grows, more nations will disapprove and will eventually try to intervene and try to stop him. If that does occur and all of Putin's and the governments secrets will only cause him trouble. Putin at the moment is the only reason Russia has been able together, but if he leaves Russia's in trouble.
The state of Russian affairs is in a state of dismay. Vladimir Putin, a modern Dictator and criminal, is at the head of its issues. The amount of laundering, corruption, and shadow crimes committed under his agenda are so outstanding, it is hard to believe a man like this has remained in power for this long. But in a state of mass propaganda, which targets and victimizes almost every Russian is the key to his success. He simply has too much power, and is not willing to give any of it up without force, or revolution. But I do not feel like this will happen any time in the near future. The people of Russia are so used to being taken care of by an authoritarian leader, that the idea and policy of Democracy is just too far-fetched in their national sentiment. This has lead to Russia as being one of the most controversial topics in global affairs. They almost always seem to be on the other side of every western affair, ranging from Syria to Ukraine, to straight up government policy. Russia seems to be taking more and more steps towards an autocracy with the collapse of every prior system of government. This makes for alot of political and civil unrest which gives way to cunning leaders such as Vladimir. And Vladimir doesn't have regard for anyone but himself and his political ties. undermining any attempt to slander and bring forth evidence of his evil deeds. These actions will only result in further isolation from the world, and more authoritarian power granted to Putin.
ReplyDelete-Brendan Cremins
I found it interesting that Putin's government was seen more as a successful authoritarian one than a failing democratic one. In my opinion Putin is a very good leader because he has, for some reason, maintained the ability to win election after election, even as a criminal. Why the Russians continue to put their trust in someone who is stealing from them everyday is beyond me because Putin has managed to accumulate $40 billion for himself out of their pockets. Whatever Putin is doing in his country is working, however, his disgusting ways have cost him immense isolation from the rest of the world. Putin's corruption will continue to grow and cost the nation as a whole in extremely bad ways.
ReplyDelete-Emily Roché
Putin's demonstration of successful leadership could have created a brainwashing-type effect on the community and how they view their government. Although he has distorted backdoor deals among different countries, such as the laundering in Germany, these proofs of his unfair position don't afflict the people. But, to others not under his rule, this irresponsible and rigidly structured "leader" is noticeably irrational. At a conference he is even seen by other leaders as one not to mess with. As for those who do communicate with Putin, it's by force during whatever criminal acts they consider useful.
ReplyDelete-Matt Yocom
Vladimir Putin is a genius. He has manipulated his governments laws and constitution to make sure that he is always in a position of power. He doesn't seem to care about his people or anyone that he has no relationship with. This is a dangerous man, with almost complete control over one of the most powerful militaries in the world save the US. We need to find a way to make sure that he doesn't view us as a threat, or make sure that he doesn't keep power for very long. As things are, and as I think they are going, tensions between the US and Russia and definitely going down, but they are still very high in terms of international relations. Putin is dangerous and we definitely want him on our side in the world.
ReplyDeleteVladimir Putin is the epitome of determination. He is one of the few men in European history to go from working a low ranked position to a dicta- a president! He strategically used the people around him (e.g. his college professor), built strong relationships ensuring that he would be able to avoid getting trouble, and then took over their political positions. Putin's determination was also displayed in the documentary regarding the food crisis Russia endured. Putin's solution was to import tons of food material from other countries which seemed like an impossible task, and it was because not even a grain of rice was brought to Russia. However, Putin's bravery to even attempt to complete the task was admirable. He also protects his friends: when his mentor, Sobchak was under pressure due to speculation of corruption, Putin got him out of the situation.
ReplyDeletePutin has also had a few "oopsies" in his time as dicta- President/Prime minister of Russia. E.g. when he was a politician who was unheard of in Russia and was running for President, Putin's method of drawing attention to himself was very explosive. He used the Chechen's to make Russian citizens believe it was their doing when it was really the FSB. It resulted in Putin coming out of nowhere swearing to destroy Chechnya, and he did with brutal force.
All in all, Putin has displayed is drive for power whether it's favored by the people or not. It shows the reader that as a leader, he follows his own schedule regardless of what others think and also regardless of whether it is allowed or not.
Gerald Bonsu
Putin may have been able to expand the economy and also have many other successes as President, but that does not justify all his other corruption and scandals. There is no control over his power and he wants more and more of it every day. There is little to none checks and balances when it comes to him. He loves the power which is another reason for him building his palace. Also, Putin has many scandals such as the apartment bombing. Putin may have had a couple of success, but that shouldn't mean that Russia should have an immoral and corrupt president. Putin is not a strong global leader. He has put in very little efforts to stop ISIS and he has only shown his interest for himself and Russia. That might make him a strong national leader, he is not a successful global leader.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt in the fact that Putin is an extremely powerful man, however in no way would I consider him a good leader. On his rise to presidency, he was able to gain a wide range of support to lead Russia to a better state. However, he has done exactly opposite. Yes, he has had some recognizable accomplishments in the past, but nothing covers the selfish and brutal acts he continues to show. If he wasn't so worried about himself and took into regards the people of his country, he could be a very powerful leader with everything he has behind him. - CHRIS MOORE
ReplyDeletePutin is a horrible leader. He is powerful, but corrupt. The country is run by oligarchs and overall the population is very poor. Russia's effort against ISIS has been weak and overall has a weak military in general considering the trouble they have with poorly equipped rebels of Ukraine. Putin only publicizes what he wants us to hear, which is he is a powerful leader. He may be powerful, but is not strong. He has gained his power through scandals and immorality. Russia not joining NATO makes them look weaker. At this point, he has certainly shown he does not care about the people of russia or anyone else for that matter.
ReplyDelete-Nick Pignetti
On the surface, Putin appears to be a good leader. He has expanded Russia's economy and made them a world power. However, Putin is also corrupt in his ways and does not seem to actually care about his people and their needs.
ReplyDeleteDue to Russia's economy, Putin has a large control on most of the world. Russia's wealth combined with Putin's corruption, allows smaller countries to be influenced and used to his demand.
Putin is a ballsy leader and is someone that I have to respect even though I hate him. He seems to constantly bully everyone on the world stage even though he has a failing economy. He is smart enough to manipulate an entire government to work the way he likes. He has basically become the dictator of Russia as he puts his own friends as his opponents and just takes whatever he likes. Putin only shows his what he wants them to see and its ridiculous. He claims to have an amazing military but he still is unable be effective against ISIS. The worst thing is he took Ukraine just because he felt like it. Also after he endorsed Trump he just seemed disappointing like of course you like the idiot that thinks he can kick Muslims out of the US. Although Putin is able to manipulate people all the time he still has fundamental issues that he can't run his 1 dimensional country that solely relies on oil that is steadily dropping in value. He acts big but in reality he is nothing.
ReplyDeletePutin has done a great job of manipulating the government. He has gained immense respect and almost brainwashed those who follow him. he is without a doubt a smart leader and has gotten almost whatever he desires. He utilizes the good things he has accomplished such as expanding their economy and their world power status to cover up the corrupt government he has created. Without any respect for the people of Russia and their actual needs, he continues to rule Russia and influence other countries. His denial to joining NATO is just another example of how he ha no care for his own people. Putin has also failed in protecting his country against ISIS. Russia would be even more powerful if their leader wasnt so selfish and actually took the people into consideration. Not a persuasive leader who will never suffer the consequences of his corrupt ways.
ReplyDelete-Madison Johnston