The Strongman: Vladimir Putin and the Struggle for Russia

Russia under Vladimir Putin has proved a prickly partnerfor the West, a far cry from the democratic ally many hoped for when the Soviet Union collapsed. Abroad, he has used Russia's energy might as a foreign policy weapon, while at home he has cracked down on opponents, adamant that only he has the right vision for his country's future. Former BBC correspondent Angus Roxburgh charts the dramatic fight for Russia'sfuture under Vladimir Putin - how the former KGB man changed from reformer to autocrat, how he sought the West's respect but earned its fear, how he cracked down on his rivals at home and burnished a flamboyant personality cult, one day saving snow leopards or horse-back riding bare chested, the net tongue-lashing Western audiences. Drawing on dozens of exclusive interviews in Russia, where he worked for a time as a Kemlin insider advising Putin on press relations, as well as in the US and Europe, Roxburgh also argues that the West threw away chances to bring Russia in from the cold, by failing to understand its fears and aspirations following the collapse of communism.

Table of Contents:
About the Author ix Introduction xi 1. The Secret Policeman's Ball 1 2. Courting the West 26 3. The Battle for Economic Reform 46 4. The Darker Side 57 5. New Europe, Old Europe 85 6. Putin Mark II 108 7. Enemies Everywhere 128 8. A New Cold War 157 9. Media, Missiles, Medvedev 183 10. The Descent into War 220 11. Resetting Relations with the West 253 12. The Strongman and His Friends 272 13. Tandemology 296 14. Putin Mark III 316 Conclusion 344 Notes356 Index 367

About the Author :
Angus Roxburgh is a respected British foreign correspondent and Russia specialist. He was the Sunday Times Moscow correspondent in the mid-1980s and the BBC's Moscow correspondent during the Yeltsin years.

Review :
'[Written] with admirable even-handedness and insight - The Strongman is not only political history; it is informed by the author's close acquaintance with many of the prime players - Every chapter of this book is worth reading.' Mary Dejevsky, Independent 'The considerable value of this book lies in [Roxburgh's] painstaking and empathetic effort to understand how Mr Putin came to power, why many Russians still support him today, and how the West's approach to Russia has helped to shape his rule.' Paul Starobin, Wall Street Journal 'A sober assessment of the Putin years, illuminated by Angus Roxburgh's first-hand experience and long acquaintance with Russia.' Bridget Kendall, BBC diplomatic correspondent 'Using his personal experiences and material from new interviews with key figures, Angus Roxburgh lifts the lid on a decade of murky Kremlin politics.' Martin Sixsmith, author of Russia: A 1,000-Year Chronicle of the Wild East