In Moscow's Shadows

In Moscow's Shadows 148: 'Purging' the Military; the politics of anti-corruption in a corrupt system

May 26, 2024

Explore corruption-related arrests in the Russian military, fears of a coup, and the politics of anti-corruption in a corrupt system. Analyze power struggles in the military, Putin's role, and the facade of anti-corruption campaigns. Navigate Belorov's efforts to combat corruption and unravel Putin's priorities in the defense industry complex.

44:58

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Quick takeaways

Anti-corruption campaigns in the Russian military serve strategic purposes within the context of maximizing resources for efficiency during wartime.

Symbolic anti-corruption campaigns in corrupt systems create a facade of accountability while preserving top officials from scandals.

Deep dives

The Military Corruption Arrests

Recent high-profile arrests within the military, including Deputy Minister Timur Ivanov and Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznyetsov, have raised questions about a potential purge. However, the complexity of these anti-corruption campaigns reflects a mix of political implications. The arrests do not necessarily indicate a coup brewing or an FSB takeover, as some extreme speculations suggest.

Introduction

3min

Analyzing Anti-Corruption Efforts and Coup Potential in the Russian Military

3min

Corruption and Power Struggles in Military and Intelligence Services

5min

Corruption and Power Dynamics in the Military

12min

Symbolic Politics of Anti-Corruption in Putin's Russia

3min

The Facade of Anti-Corruption Campaigns in Russian Politics

17min

Navigating Corruption and Power Struggles in the Military

3min

What is behind the current spate of corruption-related arrests within the Russian military? Fears of a coup, an FSB takeover, punishing the generals for a badly-fought war? I'd say it is what it seems, an attempt to tackle waste in a time of war. That doesn't mean this kleptocracy is changing its spots, though: even within corrupt systems, anti-corruption campaigns can be mobilised for a range of purposes.

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