The Age of the Strongman: Understanding Putin, with Catherine Belton (Part Two)

14 snips

Mar 16, 2025

Guest

Arkady Ostrovsky

Guest

Catherine Belton

Catherine Belton, an acclaimed journalist and author of "Putin's People," shares insights on Vladimir Putin's strategic rise to power, fueled by a network of KGB affiliates and oligarchs. Alongside Arkady Ostrovsky, a Russian politics expert, they analyze the complex dynamics between Putin and Trump, revealing a shared disdain for liberal values. They also discuss the implications of European military roles in Ukraine and the moral justifications used to support Russia's actions, highlighting the intricate geopolitical landscape that affects us all.

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INSIGHT

Putin's View of the West

Putin likely believes the West seeks to undermine Russia internally, seemingly validated by events.
His relationship with Trump reflects shared distrust of liberal Europe and perceived decadence.

INSIGHT

Russia-US Affinity

Russia and America share similarities in their pursuit of exceptionalism, territorial expansion, and fascination with each other.
Putin and Trump find common ground in their disdain for liberal Europe and perceived decadence.

INSIGHT

Putin's Manipulation

Putin is skilled at manipulating Trump, using flattery and echoing his grievances.
Russian propaganda has infiltrated US media and politics, influencing narratives about the war.

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This event was part of our Age of the Strongman series. Click here to see the other events in the series: https://www.intelligencesquared.com/the-age-of-the-strongman/.

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War in Ukraine. Interference in democratic elections. The sponsorship of extremist politics to destabilise Europe. In recent years, Vladimir Putin has waged a relentless campaign to expand his influence beyond Russia’s borders and to undermine Western democracy. But how did he come to have such control over Russia – and what is it that he really wants?

In March 2025 Catherine Belton, acclaimed journalist and author of the bestselling book Putin’s People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Took on the West joined us live from Kyiv for this installment of our series, The Age of the Strongman. Drawing on years of investigative reporting, Belton revealed how Putin’s rise was orchestrated by a network of former KGB officers and oligarchs who used economic power, fear and corruption to install him in the Kremlin. She explored how this model of governance and ‘strongman leadership’ has been exported globally and what the consequences continue to be for us all.

The event was chaired by Gideon Rachman, Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator for the Financial Times.

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