Putin

This SDG seeks to examine the life and times of Vladimir Putin primarily using a brand new biography by Philip Short simply titled, Putin. The core book  explores in unprecedented depth the personality of its enigmatic and case-hardened leader and challenges many of our preconceptions about Putin and Russia. Short's purpose is to explore Putin's personality, to understand what motivates him and how he has become the leader that he is. The biography examines Putin's working class childhood, his education as a lawyer, his career as a KGB operative, his stint as the deputy mayor of St. Petersburg,  his rise under Yeltsen,  his becoming  prime minister and multiple terms as President. The book also explores Putin's views concerning  the USSR and its  collapse, capitalism, democracy, the free press, the oligarchs, corruption, Russia's place in the World, NATO, Kosovo, Chechnya, 9/11, the 2016 US election, Georgia, Syria, the Crimea,   Ukraine and many others.  Since becoming President in 2000, his goal has been to restore Russia's status as a great power. What forces and experiences shaped him? What led him to challenge the American-led world order? These any many other questions will be addressed in this SDG.