Putin's Legacy: Russian Policy, and the new Arms Race

An analysis of Vladimir Putin’s Presidency, and the political legacy he has left to Russia. The author discusses the difference between Russian and western political systems, arguing that incompatibility need not lead inevitably to disagreement or conflict. Although harshly critical of the Russian regime, and particularly of its poor human rights record, Gary Cartwright argues that Russia was never destined to become a western style liberal democracy, and that it is on its own trajectory. In an increasingly globalised world, we need to understand and work with systems and values that are very different to our own.