Russia on the Rise? Is Putin’s Bravado a Sign of Strength or Weakness?

Laura Henry

Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to flex his muscles on the international stage. Since Putin re-assumed the presidency in 2012,  Moscow has annexed Crimea and intervened in Ukraine and Syria, while Russian aircraft continue to behave provocatively toward their NATO counterparts. In the latest reported incident, two Russian jets “buzzed” a US Navy destroyer in the Baltic Sea.

Russia-watcher Laura Henry, Bowdoin’s John F. and Dorothy H. Magee Associate Professor of Government, examines the intersection of Putin’s foreign and domestic policies and asks whether the Russian president’s actions reflect a position of internal strength or weakness . Click here to hear Professor Henry’s thoughts on President Putin’s strategy.