He wanted to ensure that no matter what happens next, “ they told him to do it.” The reinvigorated suppression and nationalization of the economy is what “they asked for.”
With the image of a powerful mandate, Putin is poised to steer Russia back to a past that many thought was left behind. His deep nostalgia for the communist system, a sentiment he considers the collapse of which to be the most significant event of the 21st century, is driving his actions. He envisions a resurrection of this system, but not without learning from Mikhail Gorbachev’s mistakes. This could potentially lead to a ‘Chinification’ of Russia, a future that should concern us all.