Who Is Vladimir Putin? Find out Here

With Russian forces occupying Crimea, and tensions remaining between Moscow and Kyiv, many are wondering, what’s going on in the mind of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In their book, Mr. Putin: Operative in the Kremlin, experts Fiona Hill and Clifford Gaddy argue Putin is in fact a man of many and complex identities. Drawing on a range of sources, including their own personal encounters, they describe six that are most essential: the Statist, the History Man, the Survivalist, the Outsider, the Free Marketeer, and the Case Officer. Understanding Putin’s multiple dimensions is crucial for policymakers trying to decide how best to deal with Russia.

[S]ome observers say that Vladimir Putin has no face, no substance, no soul. He is a “man from nowhere,” who can appear to be anybody to anyone. Indeed, as president and prime minister, Mr. Putin has turned himself into the ultimate political performance artist. Over the last several years, his public relations team has pushed his image in multiple directions, pitching him as everything from big game hunter and conservationist to scuba diver to biker—even nightclub crooner.

Download the first chapter here.

Explore all six identities in this interactive feature.

Learn more about the book and buy a copy on Amazon.com.

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