The essays provide an in-depth exploration of Russia's recent history, offering a blend of detailed research and vivid storytelling. They illuminate the country's past fifteen years, highlighting significant events and trends while also contemplating its future trajectory. Through rich details, the essays engage readers in understanding the complexities of Russia's societal and political landscape.
In Riding the Tiger, Leon Aron, an acclaimed Russian studies scholar and a Moscow native who was sanctioned by President Vladimir Putin's regime, chronicles the transformation of Russian politics and society under Putin. Through hundreds of Russian-language sources, Dr. Aron shows how Putin uses militarist propaganda and sanitized revisionist images of World War II, Stalin, and the Soviet Union to forge a nationalist and loyal core of his regime's support. And the "new Russia" suddenly looks a lot like the old USSR.Dr. Aron's bold, expert analysis of Russian political culture under Putin helps us better understand Russia's revanchist tendencies, its invasion of Ukraine, and the perilous road ahead.