The Putin System: Russian Authoritarianism Today

Abstract

The article explores the main trends that have characterized the re-emergence, formation and consolidation of an autocratic regime in post- Soviet Russia. We revisit the developments that led Vladimir Putin to the presidency of the country; framing these events as precursors of changes in formal structures (institutional and legal) and informal power mechanisms that define the current Russian political leadership. Finally, we formulated questions related to potential future scenarios involving such leadership.