The Role of the Scarecrows in Russian Politics

The Putinist regime, Trutiform, has proven incredibly timid. The big challenges relate to diversifying the economy and improving infrastructure. But dealing with these kind of topics requires not just a massive and long-term program but a willingness to be open about the actual systemic problems. In part this is actually entirely for self-interested reasons - it also speaks to the need to have people who will say the variable from a regular diplomatic point of view. And I want to make a little bit more deeply into this point about Putin's loyalty to his own interests.