Victorious Russia or victorious Putin
The Soviet Union experienced historical changes after signing of the Belavezha Accords in 1991. Initially the agreement indicated the dissolution of the Soviet Union and formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This monumental political and economic structural transformation led the Soviet Union to become the Federation of Russia.The current Russian President, Vladimir Putin therefore becomes the victorious man to stay in power for a long term since this resurgence, having served three terms as President of Russia: 2000 to 2004, 2004 to 2008, and 2012 to present.
However, the year 1990 marked a milestone in Russian history as well as ininternational history withsteps that havebeen taken by the newly formed Russian Federation. A classic example is the compilation of the Russian Constitution in 1993. The Russian segment in such transformations emerges as an amateur to embrace the pro western political ideology of Democracy. Nevertheless,Putin changes the West led democratic characteristics to fit within the Russian context. Consequently, Russian democracy has recognized as “Managed Democracy or Sovereign Democracy or simply as Putinism.”
In 2000 President Putin has focused his attention at the turn of the new millennium.The Conceptual article, ‘Russia at the turn of the Millennium’ consisted of rich factors that signify the nature of strong State power. As an example, it stressedthat “a strong state power in Russia is a democratic, law based, workable federative state.” Therefore, Putin’s political approach of Centralism is extended towards achievinga strong state power where as conversely this approach also signaled to embody a strong state leader.The Russian state ruling mechanism depictsa varied process convoluted with traditional political values namely, statism, patriotism, and social solidarity. Thus, said values and dynamicstate ruling mechanism of Russia graduallypush Russia to be a strong state with a unique strong leader.
President Vladimir Putin is the best soft power icon who individually builds Russia’s image globally. To that extent, the name of Russia has interlaced with the name of Putin.Consequence of Putin’s cult of personality, the influences of Putinism havebeen strongly followed by Russians at home and former Soviet nations. Thankful to the birth of the Russian Federation, Putin has maintained his charisma timely in different spectrums. As the most recent instance, the Russian parliamentary election of 2016 can be marked. The pro-Putin party,United Russia has conquered a landslide victoryonce again and easily captureda majority of seats at the state Duma. President Putin recognized this victory as a victory of Russian citizens. Moreover, results relate the real response of the citizens against west-led pressure on domestic politics to topple the Kremlin through rigid trade
sanctions.However the parliamentary election paved the way for Putin with majority power of the United Russia party to secure another tenure to function in Kremlin politics.
At the same time in theUnited States of America, the race to White House is being campaigned. As history repeating itself, the US Democratic Party keeps playing the ‘anti-Russian cards’ throughout the ongoing election campaign. A competitive Republican Party candidate, Donald Trump diverted from the historic road of US denouncing Russia in an election campaign and Trump in fact been enthusiastic about Putin and pronounced that “the man has very strong control over a country, but certainly in that system he’s been a leader far more than our President has been a leader.” Trumps words disclose the real personality of Putin as a strong leader. Either way, it indicates that Trump too is attracted to the cult of Putin or has accepted him as an influential international personality.
President Putin is also keen on his intelligent motives on world politics. For an instance, Putin wants Trump to be the next American presidentso as to obtain US recognition for Crimeanannexation. In addition, Putin’ssupport for powerful Russian military interventions at Georgia in 2008, Crimea in 2014, and Southeastern Ukraine in 2014-2015 has demonstrated his victorious quest for regaining the lost great power statusof Russia.
Ultimately it has to be mentioned that in any scenario Putin’s behavior on achieving national and security interests. In other words, Russia is striving to maintain its victorious stance within the international order by means of Putin’s best practice on international politics.Thereby this interconnection between Russia and Putin pushes to believe that if no Putin then it’s a no Russia situation at home and abroad. Putin being in power for twelve years is evidenceof his victorious commitment towards motherland.However, Putin’s dedication has blendedin with Russia’s ultimate objective of making and maintaining Russia a strong and powerful country within the region and in the international system.
- By Nipuli Gajanayake
