Putinism

Putinism is the political system and governing ideology associated with Vladimir Putin, combining centralized executive authority, Russian nationalism, state influence over strategic sectors, and managed electoral competition.

Connect

Russian presidential system: Russia's constitutional system gives the president extensive executive authority within a federal republic. Presidential powers provide the formal framework for Putinism's concentration of authority.
Dissolution of the Soviet Union: The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 ended the USSR and produced fifteen independent states, including the Russian Federation. The loss of superpower status became a central reference point for Putinism's national-restoration narrative.
Dmitry Medvedev: Dmitry Medvedev is a Russian politician who served as president from 2008 to 2012 and prime minister from 2012 to 2020. His presidency demonstrated how Putin retained political influence while formally leaving the presidency.
Liberal democracy: Liberal democracy combines competitive elections with civil liberties, political pluralism, and legal limits on government power. Its protections and open competition contrast with Putinism's managed electoral environment and centralized authority.
2020 Russian constitutional referendum: The 2020 Russian constitutional referendum approved amendments that reset presidential term limits and expanded state powers. The amendments formalized institutional changes that could extend Putin's rule.
United Russia: United Russia is the dominant political party in Russia and the principal electoral vehicle supporting the Kremlin. The party organizes legislative support and electoral mobilization for the governing system.
Boris Yeltsin: Boris Yeltsin was Russia's first president, serving from 1991 until his resignation on 31 December 1999. His departure brought Putin to the presidency and linked the new order to a reaction against the 1990s.
Vladislav Surkov: Vladislav Surkov is a Russian political figure associated with the Kremlin's domestic politics and the concept of sovereign democracy. His political management helped articulate and organize the system's controlled pluralism.
Soviet Union: The Soviet Union was a one-party socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991 across much of Eurasia. Putinism invokes Soviet-era power and symbols but operates through a different political and economic order.
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine was a full-scale military attack launched by Russia on 24 February 2022. The invasion exposed the consequences of Putinism's nationalist claims and centralized foreign-policy decision-making.