In Moscow they have a name for what we’ve been witnessing for the past two tumultuous months. They call it: “The Putinization of global politics.”
This goes beyond policy gains such as the Kremlin appearing to win major concessions from the United States in Ukraine, the weakening of the NATO alliance, and the erosion of American soft power — although these are certainly part of it.
But more than anything, the Putinization of global politics is a style, a vibe, a world run by alpha males. And it’s a world where might makes right and where rules, accountability, and transparency are for losers. And it is a world that Vladimir Putin has been trying to build for decades.
On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore speaks with emigre Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar, author of the bestselling books “All The Kremlin’s Men: Inside the Court of Vladimir Putin” and “War and Punishment: Putin, Zelensky, and the Path to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine.”
Enjoy…
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SHOW NOTES
Mikhail Zygar’s article in Vanity Fair, “The Putinization of America: Can Trump and Musk Outdo Vladimir Putin?” — which was referenced in the podcast –can be accessed here. Mikhail Zygar’s highly-recommended Substack newsletter The Last Pioneer can be accessed here. Zygar’s 2016 book, All the Kremlin’s Men can be purchased here. His 2023 book, War and Punishment can be purchased here. And his published op-eds in The New York Times can be accessed here.
Brian Whitmore’s 2013 article in The Atlantic, “Vladimir Putin: Conservative Icon,” which was referenced in the podcast, can be accessed here. Brian Whitmore’s 2023 article in The Bulwark, “In Russia, Mafiaism Is the New Communism,” which was referenced in the podcast, can be accessed here. The Power Vertical Newsletter on Substack can be accessed here. Recently published work by Brian Whitmore can be accessed here, here, and here. Please follow Brian Whitmore and The Power Vertical on Bluesky@powervertical.bsky.social