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Shortcut to Legitimacy: Popularity in Putin’s Russia |
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| Authors: | Derek S Hutcheson Bo Petersson |
| Institution: | 1. Associate Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Culture and Society, Department of Global Political Studies, Malm? University, SE-205 06 Malm?, Swedenderek.hutcheson@mah.se bo.petersson@mah.se;3. Professor of Political Science &4. IMER (International Migration and Ethnic Relations), Vice Dean/Research, Faculty of Culture and Society, Malm? University, SE-205 06 Malm?, Sweden. |
| Abstract: | Survey evidence suggests that Vladimir Putin’s legitimacy rests on three pillars: domestic order; economic prosperity; and the demonstration of great power status internationally. This is problematic inasmuch as it is based on a high degree of personal popularity which inhibits and contravenes the legal–rational legitimacy of state institutions. This requires continued delivery in all three areas in order to maintain the legitimacy of the regime. This framework allows us better to interpret the 2014 Ukraine crisis as an attempt to shore up support in one ‘pillar’ as performance-based legitimacy recedes. |
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