What is Putinism?

• According to a recent report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Putinism is an ideology that focuses on a solid and stable state with an emphasis on "Russian exceptionalism" and the preservation of traditional values through historical justification.

• The Second World War, known as the "Great Patriotic War" in Russia, is used as a symbol of Russian resilience and sacrifice against Nazi invasion of their land.

• The report notes that anti-Western rhetoric is used to convince the population in Russia that the West is a threat to Russian sovereignty, culture, and values.

Ideological Weaknesses

• According to the report, Putinism has no clear vision of the future as its emphasis is primarily on past events.

• As the Kremlin seeks increased sacrifices from ordinary people during wartime, building a supportive base that is active yet non-threatening to regime security may prove challenging, raising questions about the ideology's ability to effectively mobilize people.

• Due to mistrust of the West in Russia, there is no ambition to modernize along Western lines, leading to demodernization within Russian society.

Ukraine's Effect on Putinism

• The war in Ukraine has challenged the idea of "Russian exceptionalism", while also further increasing anti-Western sentiment within Russia, as noted by the report.

• Families of Russian soldiers, who were sent to fight in Ukraine, are beginning to self-organize to provide aid and equipment.

• Experts noted that this is a unique occurrence since grassroots organizations are rare in Russia - which could provide potential skills in local activism to citizens who were not active in civic life and could have the potential to become politically destabilizing in the future.