"Putin's Next Term: Challenges and Controversies in Russia's Future"
As Vladimir Putin is set to win another presidential term, Russia's hyper-centralization of power has led to increasingly weak and dysfunctional governance, despite the appearance of strength. The "constitutional dark arts" have allowed Putin to eliminate checks on power, leading to poor decision-making and weak institutions. This dysfunction has been highlighted by opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and despite recent military gains, Russia's infrastructure and military remain in decline. This poses an opportunity for a democratic challenger and serves as a reminder for the West to combat the Kremlin's carefully curated image of power and control.