This video traces how Vladimir Putin became the Tsar of Russia, in the sense of a leader who has held power for decades and concentrated authority in his own hands. It looks at his rise from a career in the KGB and in the administration of St Petersburg, through his appointment as prime minister and then president, to his long dominance of Russian politics in the years that followed.
The discussion examines the forces that helped Putin consolidate power: the chaos and economic hardship of Russia in the 1990s, the desire for stability after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the way he used the state, the security services and the media to sideline rivals. It also looks at his image as a strongman, and at how his rule has drawn comparisons with the tsars, Russia’s rulers before the revolution, who also combined personal authority with a claim to embody the nation.
For viewers, the video is a useful introduction to modern Russian politics and to the man who has shaped it more than any other. It matters because Russia remains a major power, and understanding how Putin rose and how he has stayed in power is essential to understanding Russia’s relations with its neighbours and with the West.