Fiona Hill and Clifford Gaddy set out to answer: Where do Putin's ideas come from? How does he look at the outside world? What does he want, and how far is he willing to go? This new and greatly expanded edition dispels potentially dangerous misconceptions about Putin and offers a clear-eyed look at his objectives. It presents Putin as a reflection of deeply ingrained Russian ways of thinking as well as his unique personal background and experience.
Fiona Hill is director of the Center on the United States and Europe and a senior fellow in Foreign Policy at Brookings.Clifford G. Gaddy is a senior fellow in Foreign Policy at Brookings. Hill and Gaddy are coauthors of The Siberian Curse: How Communist Planners Left Russia Out in the Cold (Brookings, 2003).
Part I. The Operative Emerges 1. Who Is Mr. Putin? 2. Boris Yeltsin and the Time of Troubles 3. The Statist 4. The History Man 5. The Survivalist 6. The Outsider 7. The Free Marketeer 8. The Case Officer 9. The System Part II. The Operative Engages 10. The Stakeholders' Revolt 11. Putin's World 12. The American Education of Mr. Putin 13. Russia Resurgent 14. The Operative Abroad Coda: The Operative in Action Chronology Notes on Translations, Transliteration, Nomenclature, Style, and Source Abbreviations and Acronyms Notes Bibliography Index
"Remember the unverified "dossier" assembled by a shadowy foreign intelligence veteran who alleged all manner of nefarious, kinky and compromising ties between Donald Trump and Russia? Well, now the Trump team has its own dossier on Russian President Vladimir Putin. It's better sourced, convincingly written, damning in its conclusions - and its author is scheduled to start working at the White House." - Washington Post "As experienced students of modern Russia, Fiona Hill and Clifford Gaddy are exceptionally well qualified to explain the experiences and influences which shaped the mind of Vladimir Putin. . . . If you want to begin to understand Russia today, read this book." - Sir John Scarlett, former chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) "Veteran Russia watchers Hill and Gaddy bring high-level expertise to bear on the enigma of Vladimir Putin in this illuminating study. . . . [It] combines enough historical background and contemporary analysis for a graduate-level seminar along with an accessible writing style that won't deter more casual readers." -Publishers Weekly "Let it be stated unambiguously at the outset: this book is a tour de force." -Political Studies Review "For anyone wishing to understand Russia's evolution since the breakup of the Soviet Union and its trajectory since then, the book you hold in your hand is an essential guide. - John McLaughlin, former deputy director of U.S. Central Intelligence "Of the many biographies of Vladimir Putin that have appeared in recent years, this one is the most useful. - Foreign Affairs "This is not just another Putin biography. It is a psychological portrait. - The Financial Times "Considering how busy you are, do you have time to read books? If so, which ones would you recommend? ". . . My goodness, let's see. There's Mr. Putin, by Fiona Hill and Clifford Gaddy. Insightful." -Vice President Joseph Biden in Joe Biden: The Rolling Stone Interview
