Last June, President Joe Biden and President Vladimir Putin held a summit in Geneva. The goal of the American side, according to Biden, was to encourage "a stable and predictable relationship" with Russia. The goal of the Russians was to put the world on notice. As Putin proclaimed, the U.S. had “declared Russia as its enemy and adversary.”
Your buddy Dean Obeidallah made a similar historical point, especially withing the realm of Russia's own history and the prevalent legacy of expansionist leaders' failures. Within and without, it looms. If only it didn't involve so much death, destruction and pain to innocents, it would not be so abjectly regrettable.
How would you advise Pres. Biden and NATO at this moment? What can they do to most effctively change Putin’s mind about pursuing control over all or part of Ukraine?
Two psychologists have stated recently that they suspect Putin is a primary psychopath. But I feel it is much worse than this, as I suspect he suffers from what is known as the "Dark Triad" of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy. Contrary to popular belief, psychopaths are not easily detected in society. It is known that business leaders are three times as likely to be psychopaths as compared with the general population. In autocratic politics, the ratio is huge. Hitler was suspected of being a secondary psychopath (sociopath), as were Pinochet, Slobodan Milosevic and Mussolini. These people see themselves as demigods, so why on earth would they compromise with anyone? They don't. They are totally driven by their mental disorder. Putin is a sick man and people like this should never be allowed to attain power. There have been too many bad examples of this happening in the past to let it occur in the present and future.
Loved the recent interview on MSNBC with Ruth and Jason Stanley.
Thank you, Ruth. Excellent comparisons to other ego maniac autocrats who have brought nothing of value to their constituents, only destruction and pain to those who don't profess loyalty to them. Then, of course, their economies, politics and societies stop being dynamic and innovative. Reminds me of a similar disease we suffered in the U.S. from 2017 to 2020. Just a heads up: I think there's a typo in the date shown under the photo of Biden-Putin. Should be June 2021, not June 2022?
Interesting, Ruth, that you predicted the outcome of the summit. It is amazing, now, how many books by academics, as well as commentators, on your subject of strongmen, are appearing. I repeat myself, here, by congratulating you on being able to monetize your knowledge, which you have given on Lucid so freely, with MSNBC. Look forward to seeing you there.
Thank you very much for this clear explanation of what we are seeing and possibly will see. I wish to make one correction--the caption for the photo showing Biden and Putin in Geneva has "June 2022," which has not yet occurred. This needs to be remedied. It was quite likely 2021, I believe. Thank you again for this most enlightening insight into personalized rule.
I think your analysis of Putin's mind set is spot on Ruth. His and Trump's is a personalist rule based on arrogance, greed, hubris and a blinkered view of reality that comes from too many loyalists and yes men. In some ways Putin is a little like Will Smith assaulting Chris Rock live on stage during the Oscars. They both have enormous riches (Putin obviously has more than Smith) live in a narcissistic bubble surrounded by flatters, loyalists and have a sense that they can do whatever the hell they damn well please.
Machiavelli said " a prince who is not wise himself will never take good advice, unless by chance he has yielded his affairs entirely to one person who happens to be a very prudent man." Putin has delusions of grandeur and is only being told only what he wants to hear. Less wise than Putin, Trump is clearly not wise himself and only acts on impulse, aggression and self aggrandizement. Both Putin and Trump are leading their followers and respective countries down a path of ruin and evil.
We have to understand that he operates in a kill or be killed situation. Similar to the North Korean leader. There is no comfortable retirement or speaking tour in his future. Of course it's of his own doing and how he kept power. Yet it is also a function of their society and culture. If he shows weakness another may easily do the same to him. So what to do? My advice would have been like yours to not give a despot an audience that will impress his followers back home. Ignore him. Also don't show one's cards and expect someone like Putin to not invade. Sanctions didn't matter to him. He doesn't care about public survey's of how the West views him. He also likes the fact that we are afraid he will use nukes so he knows we won't send in troops or impose a no fly zone. How does he know? Because we said it out loud and told him. If we wanted to prevent the invasion we had to show power first. It was obvious he planned to invade. Instead millions are suffering and both Russians and Ukrainians are dying because one man has gone too far with his power trip and nobody stood up to the bully early enough. It's why we had the Holocaust and so many other atrocities before and after.
An excellent piece. As a former Foreign Minister (current Foreign Minister Lavrov’s former superior) said: ‘Putin will be taken for a walk to either a palace (to stay there permanently) or to the grave.’
Even autocrats know that they are limited by the average human lifespan. Putin is 70 and he understands that he has more days behind him than in front of him. His fantasy of a new Russian empire with history books naming him as its father becomes less attainable with every passing day. Tenacious as he appears to be, he will die trying to reach that goal. No gambit is too risky. Until the West understands this and devises an effective counter strategy that does not assume fair play, Putin will soldier on and the world will suffer for it.
The more I learn about Russian history, even from the beginnings in the 1600s, the more it sounds like nothing changes there. Strongmen, violence, greed, corruption, stealing, and nepotism. When does the cycle end, if ever? Thanks for an excellent column, Ruth.
This is the type of material that is provided to the President in his daily brief. It reads like a CIA document. Ruth is showing her insight without having the benefit of a multi billion dollar government agency behind her. Excellent column!
Your buddy Dean Obeidallah made a similar historical point, especially withing the realm of Russia's own history and the prevalent legacy of expansionist leaders' failures. Within and without, it looms. If only it didn't involve so much death, destruction and pain to innocents, it would not be so abjectly regrettable.
Thank you for this great essay. Your ongoing writing is so clear and well-written, and I enjoy finding your daily in my in-box.
PS: I love it that you're in The City. I'm a native of Palo Alto transplanted in retirement to the Blue city of Bloomington in Indiana.
How would you advise Pres. Biden and NATO at this moment? What can they do to most effctively change Putin’s mind about pursuing control over all or part of Ukraine?
Two psychologists have stated recently that they suspect Putin is a primary psychopath. But I feel it is much worse than this, as I suspect he suffers from what is known as the "Dark Triad" of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy. Contrary to popular belief, psychopaths are not easily detected in society. It is known that business leaders are three times as likely to be psychopaths as compared with the general population. In autocratic politics, the ratio is huge. Hitler was suspected of being a secondary psychopath (sociopath), as were Pinochet, Slobodan Milosevic and Mussolini. These people see themselves as demigods, so why on earth would they compromise with anyone? They don't. They are totally driven by their mental disorder. Putin is a sick man and people like this should never be allowed to attain power. There have been too many bad examples of this happening in the past to let it occur in the present and future.
Loved the recent interview on MSNBC with Ruth and Jason Stanley.
Thank you, Ruth. Excellent comparisons to other ego maniac autocrats who have brought nothing of value to their constituents, only destruction and pain to those who don't profess loyalty to them. Then, of course, their economies, politics and societies stop being dynamic and innovative. Reminds me of a similar disease we suffered in the U.S. from 2017 to 2020. Just a heads up: I think there's a typo in the date shown under the photo of Biden-Putin. Should be June 2021, not June 2022?
Interesting, Ruth, that you predicted the outcome of the summit. It is amazing, now, how many books by academics, as well as commentators, on your subject of strongmen, are appearing. I repeat myself, here, by congratulating you on being able to monetize your knowledge, which you have given on Lucid so freely, with MSNBC. Look forward to seeing you there.
Here is an article by Robert Reich from The Guardian which complements Prof. Ben Ghiat's analysis of strongmen.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/29/putin-trump-tucker-carlson-republican-party
Thank you very much for this clear explanation of what we are seeing and possibly will see. I wish to make one correction--the caption for the photo showing Biden and Putin in Geneva has "June 2022," which has not yet occurred. This needs to be remedied. It was quite likely 2021, I believe. Thank you again for this most enlightening insight into personalized rule.
Thank you Ruth for this core insight in real time as history unfolds in real time.
I think your analysis of Putin's mind set is spot on Ruth. His and Trump's is a personalist rule based on arrogance, greed, hubris and a blinkered view of reality that comes from too many loyalists and yes men. In some ways Putin is a little like Will Smith assaulting Chris Rock live on stage during the Oscars. They both have enormous riches (Putin obviously has more than Smith) live in a narcissistic bubble surrounded by flatters, loyalists and have a sense that they can do whatever the hell they damn well please.
Machiavelli said " a prince who is not wise himself will never take good advice, unless by chance he has yielded his affairs entirely to one person who happens to be a very prudent man." Putin has delusions of grandeur and is only being told only what he wants to hear. Less wise than Putin, Trump is clearly not wise himself and only acts on impulse, aggression and self aggrandizement. Both Putin and Trump are leading their followers and respective countries down a path of ruin and evil.
We have to understand that he operates in a kill or be killed situation. Similar to the North Korean leader. There is no comfortable retirement or speaking tour in his future. Of course it's of his own doing and how he kept power. Yet it is also a function of their society and culture. If he shows weakness another may easily do the same to him. So what to do? My advice would have been like yours to not give a despot an audience that will impress his followers back home. Ignore him. Also don't show one's cards and expect someone like Putin to not invade. Sanctions didn't matter to him. He doesn't care about public survey's of how the West views him. He also likes the fact that we are afraid he will use nukes so he knows we won't send in troops or impose a no fly zone. How does he know? Because we said it out loud and told him. If we wanted to prevent the invasion we had to show power first. It was obvious he planned to invade. Instead millions are suffering and both Russians and Ukrainians are dying because one man has gone too far with his power trip and nobody stood up to the bully early enough. It's why we had the Holocaust and so many other atrocities before and after.
An excellent piece. As a former Foreign Minister (current Foreign Minister Lavrov’s former superior) said: ‘Putin will be taken for a walk to either a palace (to stay there permanently) or to the grave.’
Even autocrats know that they are limited by the average human lifespan. Putin is 70 and he understands that he has more days behind him than in front of him. His fantasy of a new Russian empire with history books naming him as its father becomes less attainable with every passing day. Tenacious as he appears to be, he will die trying to reach that goal. No gambit is too risky. Until the West understands this and devises an effective counter strategy that does not assume fair play, Putin will soldier on and the world will suffer for it.
The more I learn about Russian history, even from the beginnings in the 1600s, the more it sounds like nothing changes there. Strongmen, violence, greed, corruption, stealing, and nepotism. When does the cycle end, if ever? Thanks for an excellent column, Ruth.
👏👏👏
This is the type of material that is provided to the President in his daily brief. It reads like a CIA document. Ruth is showing her insight without having the benefit of a multi billion dollar government agency behind her. Excellent column!