The Putin Syndicate

Putin is considered the strong man of Russia. But how far does his power really reach? Margareta Mommsen has been observing the Russian leadership circle for many years. In her illuminating book, she shows how Putin came to power, who he is beholden to, who else sits behind the wheel of this “guided democracy” and why the intelligence leaders and oligarchs wield the true power. After the fall of the Soviet Union, it looked as if Russia would orient itself towards the West, but the West spurned the Russian overtures. Since then, the aggrieved superpower has drawn on its own strengths. The notorious “Kremlin Family” took power under Yeltsin and in Putin they fashioned a willing, tailor-made president who portrays himself as an athletic nature lover and has even found admirers in the West. Margareta Mommsen describes how the intelligence leaders, captains of industry, and the Orthodox Church want to make Russia great again. She demonstrates how a secret oligarchy runs the media, the judiciary, and key industries, organizes the leader’s cult, mobilizes the military, and defends Russia’s superpower interests in the Ukraine or Syria. The Putin Syndicate has a firm grip on Russia. Margareta Mommsen reveals just how firmly Putin himself is under the thumb of the intelligence service. Margareta Mommsen is professor emeritus of political science at the University of Munich. C.H.Beck most recently published her book Das System Putin (The Putin System, co-authored with Angelika Nußberger, 2009).