Author: Kadri Liik
Affiliation: European Council on Foreign Relations
Organization/Publisher: European Council on Foreign Relations
Date/Place: November 26, 2020/UK
Type of Literature: Policy Brief
Number of Pages:17
Link: https://ecfr.eu/publication/russias-relative-resilience-why-putin-feels-vindicated-by-the-pandemic/
Keywords: Russia, Kremlin, Putin, Pandemic
Brief:
This policy brief is commissioned to shed light on the politico-economic situation in Russia. While the theme centralizes upon the difficulties that have faced Putin since the outbreak of Covid-19, the argument is that the same pandemic was a push for Putin to surface the political heroism in Russia. Despite the economic crisis that has inflicted the country, the Russian elite could hide itself behind the pretext of the pandemic. Even more, the economic recession in European countries gave opportunity to the Russian elite to sell the idea that Russia could better overcome and control the economy compared to developed countries. However, the lifespan of the pandemic has unveiled the political and economic problems in Russia. Yet, Putin could play the success of the healthcare system—in some instances—to backup the role of the state, and by that the role of the elite. Nevertheless, this political game has created mistrust between the state and its citizens, and most Russians have become skeptical of their healthcare system and the numbers of infected people that the state gives every day. Moreover, the impact of the pandemic on foreign policy has also helped and vindicated Putin in the eyes of the Russians. Despite having the same thinking in its foreign policy (Putin has suspended or postponed some matters), the pandemic made Putin turn his attention locally, focusing inside the country to save lives from the pandemic. This has helped Putin in a nationalist Russia. Finally, the impact of the pandemic will make Russia recalculate its local politics, healthcare system, and even its foreign policy. Russia has figured out that its involvement in Syria and elsewhere is not only political or military, but also an economic one, that would pose a great problem to the Kremlin amid its economic recession.
By: Imad Atoui, CIGA Research Associate
