Power and Charisma: A Look at Putin

Author: Zhen Xingliang, Lin Zhianguo
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not Available
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 reduced. Politically and diplomatically, Putin successfully smoothed out many internal political relationships within the regime and scored points on the international stage, restoring Russia's traditional image as a major power. In terms of re-establishing authority and stabilizing the political situation, Putin left the Russian people with an image of "pursuing openness and freedom while emphasizing control and development," thanks to his abundant energy, firm will, and steady work style. 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.