The dark path of the dictator. How Putin became who he is now

Putin is the greatest threat to global security and is likely to remain so until he loses power

–

Vladimir Putin’s 22-year rule has been marked by a steady decline in the goals he has set for himself and his country. Initially, he held progressive views on domestic reform and international integration, but much has changed since then, and he is driving Russia deeper and deeper into authoritarian isolation. His recent comments, in which he compares himself to Peter the Great and boasts of plans to seize Ukrainian lands, represent a new descent into this depressing path from would-be reformer to war criminal.

It is tempting to suggest that Putin has always been an implacable authoritarian and enthusiastic imperialist, but in the early years of his rule he often advocated sensible reforms while promoting initiatives to modernize and diversify the Russian economy.

Shortly after he was first appointed president in 2000, Putin published an essay claiming that he wanted Russia to match Portugal’s GDP per capita by the end of his two terms in office. This was a realistic and pragmatic economic goal, as Portugal was then the poorest member state of the EU. However, two decades later, in 2021, Portugal’s per capita GDP in current US dollars was twice that of Russia.