Putin: His Downfall and Russia’s Coming Crash

In the latest saga of corruption and geopolitics from Lourie (Sakharov: A Biography), he proves a master chronicler of modern Russia. The book chronicles Vladimir Putin’s rise to power, beginning with Putin’s early days as a loyal KGB agent. Lourie examines the U.S.S.R.’s downfall and Russia’s chaotic postcommunist political climate, which propelled Putin’s ascension from the inconspicuous role of deputy chief of property, to first prime minister and later president. His main argument is that Putin’s Russia will eventually fall. To prove this point, he goes in-depth on Putin’s interest in the Arctic, Ukraine, China, and the Internet. According to Lourie, Putin, like his predecessors, failed to diversify Russia’s economy, relying too heavily on the country’s gas and oil reserves (the latter, he observes, is called a “wasting asset because, once used, it can never be replaced”). He argues that Putin’s lust for power and empire led to the annexation of Crimea and other crises. Citing other experts and drawing on his own expertise, Lourie paints a convincing portrait of a ruthless authoritarian leader headed toward failure. Lourie also exposes the other powerful players in Russian politics. This book serves as an essential primer on Putin and, by extension, Russia—a resilient but ill-fated country plagued by corrupt leaders. [em](July) [/em]