"The most comprehensive examination of how illiberal ideology is crystallizing in Putin's Russia. This book confirms Marlene Laruelle's reputation as a leading expert in the field. It is essential reading to understand not only 'how Russia works' but also the broader dynamics of ideological contestation."Mikhail Suslov, University of Copenhagen "One of the world's premier experts on Russian political thought, Marlene Laruelle offers a rich, nuanced, and lucid explication of 'Putinism,' its mélange of ideological formulations across a quarter century, its intellectual-historical heritage and grassroots sources, and its dissemination in contemporary media and popular culture."Edith W. Clowes, University of Virginia "Marlene Laruelle's book is a major contribution to our understanding of the nature, evolution, and sources of popularity of Putin's regime. It forces us to rethink much of the conventional wisdom about Russia today."Ivan Krastev, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" "Laruelle's thorough examination of the ideological trends underpinning modern Russia demonstrates how these are the product of a process of co-creation by state and society, rather than Kremlin diktat. Understanding Russia has rarely been more important, and this detailed and nuanced analysis is an important contribution to that cause."Paul Robinson, University of Ottawa "This book proposes a critical reconstruction of the intellectual genealogies of the regime: to understand the ideological construction of Russia in all its diversity and homogeneity, analyzing its ability to capture its internal cohesion alongside its contradictions, ambiguities, and omissions."Sakhri Mohamed, World Policy Hub
