Putin is, like the tsar's of old, a little father who makes a point of listening and becoming involved in the problems of his people. He has become famous for his multi-hour marathons on Russian television where ordinary Russians are invited to call in and "ask Vladimir Putin anything." Invariably, most of the calls involve ordinary Russian citizens telling Putin about one problem or another of dealing with the Russian government's vast, indifferent bureaucracy. Typically, Putin shows up with a lap top on which he takes diligent notes.
Just like the tsar's of old, the presumption is that if the "little father" Putin is made aware of a problem he will quickly set it right. But Putin also embodies the character of grozny, a large than life, imposing, awe-inspiring person. This is after all a Russian leaders who has himself filmed riding bare-chested across the Russian steppe, supposedly wrestling with bears and engaging in daring and dangerous acts that would, one presumes, frighten lesser morals. Acts that would certainly be considered off limits to other world leaders by their security details. This character of the new Russian tsardom is also reflected in the image that Putin projects in his dealings with foreign leaders, especially in the way it is reported on Russian television. Such meetings are invariable portrayed as a test of wills, with Putin besting his "opponent" and forcing them to conform to Russia's demands.
Admittedly, this doesn't always play very convincingly, even in the shameless propaganda that now passes for Russian news broadcasts. Take the sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of its seizure of the Crimea. On Russian television they are invariably presented as a standoff, with Russian imposed sanctions portrayed as being equally punishing on Russia's opponents and precipitating diplomatic requests from Europe and the United States that they be eased.
There has been a tendency in the West to try to draw distinctions between Russian "moderates" like Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and the former KGB molded "hardliners" like Vladimir Putin. There is little doubt that Putin revels in the grozny character of Russia's leader but the distinction between Russian "moderates" and "hardliners" may prove to be a meaningless exercise. Putin may be a child of the KGB but he is also a son of mother Russia and he has an uncanny knack for knowing what characteristics Russians want to see in their leaders.
There will always be "moderates" in the Russian government, but regardless who follows Putin, admittedly a theoretical question since he shows no interest in stepping down, that leader will be more likely than not to reflect that character of batiushka and grozny so closely identified with Russian tsardom and with Vladimir Putin. Kremlin scuttlebutt has it that behind his back, government insiders refer to Vladimir Putin as "the Tsar." It's a fit nickname because that is exactly how he is behaving. Copied from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
