That Vladimir Putin represents a threat to the countries around Russia’s periphery and to the principles on which the international order has been based no one disputes, but some both in Russia and the West are beginning to recognize that Putinism as a manner of rule is an even greater threat than the man himself.

Like Soviet communism, Putinism includes both what the leader wants for himself and his country and seeks in various ways covert and otherwise to promote and what may emerge in other countries because of problems there and the wish of some to emulate the Kremlin leader’s approach even if he is not directly behind what they do.

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