This chapter explores Putin's background and his rise to power, including his interactions with the Russian mafia and his fusion of the FSB, money laundering, and mafia organizations. It also discusses the aftermath of the Cold War and the different perspectives of Western countries and Moscow.
The Cold War started earlier than we think — and maybe never ended at all. Historian Calder Walton says understanding the US-Soviet conflict prepares us for this era of tensions with Russia and China.
This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Matt Collette with help from Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Rob Byers, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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