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The Key to Understanding Vladimir Putin
- throwawaysea 6y agoGreat article. This is a hard one to compress so I recommend people simply read it. For me, the main takeaway is that there is great depth and detail to understand anything or anyone well. Most accounts that inform our opinion on topics like Putin or Russian geopolitics are simply far too simplistic, lending themselves to confirmation bias. These simplistic views are very entrenched due to their convenience. It’s refreshing to hear a very different take.
- avmich 6y ago> Former President Gorbachev has confirmed that it was never written down, but the historical record is clear: the West made what amounts to a gentlemen’s agreement not to expand, and then went ahead and did so, in two rounds (1999 and 2004). Interesting how written - and unwritten - agreements are held - and broken - in various cases. Korea armstice comes to mind, as well as Budapest memorandum (of Ukraine and Crimea matter).
- commonturtle 6y agoI enjoyed reading this. Does anyone have a recommendation for a biography of Putin?
- georgecmu 6y agoThis is a series of interviews from 2000: https://www.amazon.com/First-Person-Astonishingly-Self-Portrait-President/dp/1586480189/ https://www.amazon.com/First-Person-Astonishingly-Self-Portr... Look Inside feature is available.
- commonturtle 6y agoInteresting, thanks. Do you think the information in it is trustworthy? Not sure if I can trust Putin to tell his own story truthfully.