Tag Archives: government

The 225 meanings of legitimacy

Posted on August 2, 2021 by

Amidst an increasingly harsh crackdown on dissent, a crisis of legitimacy haunts the Duma elections that will take place in seven weeks. But what does this actually mean? I argue that Russia in 2021 is not Belarus in 2020, but … Continue reading →

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NY Dispatches: Putin’s bonuses

Posted on October 6, 2020 by

Doctors and nurses have taken to the streets across Russia to demand the payment of pandemic-related bonuses promised by Vladimir Putin in April but only partially paid out. According to the government, medical staff has no reason to protest, and … Continue reading →

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NY Dispatches: How to read Putin’s ratings

Posted on May 10, 2020 by

Vladimir Putin’s ratings are falling. Unsurprising, say some, given the president’s muted response to the coronavirus pandemic. But the causes run much deeper. It’s citizens’ trust in Putin, not their approval of the president that is failing.

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NY Dispatches: the popularity of governors

Posted on November 13, 2019 by

A recent hike in the overall popularity of Russia’s governors tells an important story. But not necessarily the one that many have highlighted.

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A competitive succession

Posted on October 1, 2019 by

When two close Putin associates give strangely identical but ideologically divergent interviews, suddenly all the talk is about the Kremlin’s towers and Putin’s succession, instead of the September regional elections, which the Kremlin would like to leave behind as soon … Continue reading →

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NY Dispatches: Russia’s growing Welfare Fund

Posted on August 9, 2019 by

Russia’s frugal fiscal planning and the recovery of oil prices may land some extra money for the government to spend in the next two years, before the 2021 legislative election. Who gets this money, when and how will say a … Continue reading →

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Problem solvers

Posted on July 31, 2018 by

The FIFA World Cup has ended, and with it, so did a month-long distraction of the Russian public from public affairs. At the same time, the summer political recess or “cucumber time” began. The hope in the Kremlin was that … Continue reading →

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