What do Putin and Frodo from the Lord of the Rings have in common?
An essay by Vladimir Sorokin putting events into Russian historical (and literary) perspective.
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
An essay by Vladimir Sorokin putting events into Russian historical (and literary) perspective.
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Sorokin sees being leader of Russia as a position that, since Ivan the Terrible, has had an indefatigable power to corrupt. He traces it to Ivan installing a tyrannical system to rule the vastness of Russia. 
Since Ivan, being leader of Russia has had an indefatigable power to corrupt, like the Ring of Power in the Lord of the Rings.
Sorokin mentions that Putin seemed sensible at the beginning, even saying "I have no intention of holding onto this chair".
Sorokin mentions that Putin seemed sensible at the beginning, even saying "I have no intention of holding onto this chair".
In Sorokin's reading, Putin too has become corrupted.
"But he's the one who's doomed because the world of freedom and democracy is far bigger than his dark and gloomy lair."
We can hope that's true, but it's not guaranteed. Most crucial: Improving democratic governance for competency and fairness and to prevent demagogic takeovers.
We can hope that's true, but it's not guaranteed. Most crucial: Improving democratic governance for competency and fairness and to prevent demagogic takeovers.
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