How the war can destabilize Russia

Video Summary

Russia’s political landscape is shifting as the war in Ukraine continues, and Putin’s approach to maintaining control is being put to the test. Initially, Putin’s strategy was to keep the Russian people disengaged from politics, relying on a social contract where they would avoid politics and in return, the government would stay out of their personal lives. This arrangement worked well, but the war has changed everything. With many Russian soldiers being conscripted, the government must now try to mobilize the population to support the war effort and see Putin’s project through. This is a difficult task, as Putin has traditionally used propaganda to keep people apathetic, but now he needs to get people to take an active interest in politics. This is a significant challenge, and it’s likely that the government will face resistance and protests as they try to politicize the population. The Russian opposition politician Maxim Katz believes that increasing political awareness in Russia will lead to more protests against Putin, but Putin’s goal is to do the same thing, albeit for different reasons. The outcome is uncertain, and the potential for increased tensions in Russian society is high, especially if the war goes badly. Putin’s slow pace in making unpopular decisions indicates his concern, and it’s possible that the government will face significant opposition as the population becomes more politicized.

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