Power and Charisma: A Look at Putin: A Look at Putin

Author: Zhen Xianliang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Faced with the battered Russia, Putin achieved remarkable results in just four years. The Russian economy not only stopped declining but also began a comprehensive revival starting in 2000, and people's living standards improved significantly, with residents' incomes increasing substantially. The number of impoverished people in Russia greatly decreased. In terms of politics and diplomacy, Putin successfully resolved many internal political relationships within the regime and scored points on the international stage, restoring Russia's traditional image as a major power. In rebuilding authority and stabilizing the political situation, Putin left the Russian people with an image of "pursuing openness and freedom while emphasizing control and development." Some political analysts believe that the 52-year-old Putin may continue to maintain close relations with the Western world after his re-election. However, whether he can successfully push forward more effective economic reforms domestically and whether he can further improve the living standards of the Russian people will be major challenges he faces in his new term.