Vladimir Putin's recapture of the Russian presidency has been met with widespread derision, both at home and abroad. But the autocrat's return to the Kremlin could be Russia's best hope to escape stagnation.
With his open contempt for Russian society — exemplified in his mocking response to widespread demonstrations — as well as his arrogance, readiness to stifle dissent, and fear of competition, Putin has single-handedly quashed the long-held myth that he himself propagated: Personalized power can modernize the country while preserving stability.
To be sure, Putin's Kremlin — and his corrupt cohorts — still calls the shots. And, while his decision to return to the presidency has vexed the most dynamic elements of Russia's urban population, the rest of the country's citizens remain unhappy but quiescent.