[QUOTE=LA Ute;111542]Really interesting interview here, probably behind the Wall Street Journal paywall. I'll post some excerpts.
Will Putin Ever Leave? Could He if He Wanted?
[COLOR=#111111][FONT=Verdana]
Without a doubt, Russia's economy has declined since the Soviet peak, but does it matter? Who is there to hold Putin accountable?
Putin's primary constituency are the oligarchs who were handed the relics of the soviet economy as gifts. Autocrats aren't particularly concerned about the well being of the people they preside over, as long as they and their families become enriched, along with their cronies, and they have a solid hold on political power.
It's a fairly simple model that folds well with nationalism, but does anyone seriously think Putin cares about economic statistics?