Putin needs to keep Russia in ‘permanent state of war’ to stay in power: expert

• Political scientist Marie Mendras says in a new book that President Putin must remain in a state of permanent war to consolidate his power.
• Mendras says Putin maintains power through political violence, conflict and perpetual war.
• Despite being economically and diplomatically isolated, Putin is expected to win a fifth presidential term.

Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to keep his country in a state of permanent war to consolidate his power, according to a new book by Marie Mendras, a professor at the Paris School of International Relations at the Polyscientific University.

“He has the logic of a paranoid leader,” Mendras told France 24 on Monday.

“The guy is in survival mode,” Mendrus added. Mr. Mendras published his latest book on Russia last week, titled “Forever War: The Kremlin’s Ultimate Strategy.” Also available in French.

Mr. Mendlas, who has written several books on Russia, said that since Putin was appointed Russian prime minister by then-President Boris Yeltsin in 1999, he has managed not only to use conflict but also “increasingly political violence.” He said he has maintained his position of power. And war. These include five wars in Chechnya, Georgia, Donbass, Syria, and Ukraine.

After all, he was relatively unknown until his unexpected rise to Russia’s top job more than 20 years ago.

“He’s very immediate, short-term thinking: ‘How can I frighten everyone into accepting my desires and my control?'” she told France 24. told.

Mendras said Russia is a “dangerous dictatorship” and therefore a major revolution or uprising is unlikely.

Russia’s war against Ukraine has led to widespread sanctions against Russia by the West, isolating its economy and weakening Russia diplomatically.

Although Russia’s economy appears resilient, Mendlas cautioned against taking the numbers at face value.

“We should not trust official statistics because the economic and social conditions are not good,” she told the network.

Posted by Russia GDP growth rate Experts say Russia’s growth is driven primarily by war spending and subsidies.

President Putin is seeking a fifth presidential term in Russia’s elections scheduled for March. The 71-year-old Russian leader expected to win Race against 3 opponents.

Alexei Navalny, a long-time political rival of President Putin, died suddenly in prison on February 16th. Mr. Navalny has long been a vocal critic of Mr. Putin and his inner circle. The EU holds Russia responsible for Navalny’s death.