Putin's Kleptocracy

Who Owns Russia?

By: Karen Dawisha

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 14 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

The raging question in the world today is who is the real Vladimir Putin and what are his intentions. Karen Dawisha’s brilliant Putin’s Kleptocracy provides an answer, describing how Putin got to power, the cabal he brought with him, the billions they have looted, and his plan to restore the Greater Russia.

Russian scholar Dawisha describes and exposes the origins of Putin’s kleptocratic regime. She presents extensive new evidence about the Putin circle’s use of public positions for personal gain even before Putin became president in 2000. She documents the establishment of Bank Rossiya, now sanctioned by the US; the rise of the Ozero cooperative, founded by Putin and others who are now subject to visa bans and asset freezes; the links between Putin, Petromed, and "Putin’s Palace" near Sochi; and the role of security officials from Putin’s KGB days in Leningrad and Dresden, many of whom have maintained their contacts with Russian organized crime.

Putin’s Kleptocracy is the result of years of research into the KGB and the various thriving Russian crime syndicates. Dawisha’s sources include Stasi archives; Russian insiders; investigative journalists in the US, Britain, Germany, Finland, France, and Italy; and Western officials who served in Moscow. Russian journalists wrote part of this story when the Russian media was still free. "Many of them died for this story, and their work has largely been scrubbed from the Internet, and even from Russian libraries," Dawisha says. "But some of that work remains."

©2014 Karen Dawisha (P)2014 Simon & Schuster

THE definitive work on Putin's Russia

Would you listen to Putin's Kleptocracy again? Why?

Incredibly well researched and brimming with sources that the reader can investigate further. The author's page on Miami University website has additional resources on the book including the bibliography and one of the key documents that informed the book on 'reform of the presidential administration'

Who was your favorite character and why?

Putin obviously is the main character, and his ability to maintain public support through his signature brand of populism and media control, as well as keep the elites loyal through massive, unprecedented corruption is the core story of today's Russia, one which is far from over.

What about Robert Petkoff’s performance did you like?

The narration was quite good and the editing was top notch.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Really the most fascinating thing is how much information about the true nature of Putin's regime as well as his shadowy past including earlier corrupt schemes, court cases, mafia connections are more or less available in the public domain for anyone who takes the time to do the research and connect the dots.

Any additional comments?

I hope and pray that the Putin system doesn't crash and burn in an abrupt, violent way, which could have terrible consequences for Russian people and the rest of the world, but at this point its difficult to see an alternative trajectory.

Great book, but not great in audio form

The book itself is great-- Dawisha has thoroughly researched and investigated Putin's inner-circle, and each chapter abounds with detailed information and analysis of who Putin is and who he surrounds himself with.

The problem is that there are so many Russian names thrown around that it's practically impossible to follow along in audiobook form-- unless you have a familiarity with Russian, that is.

I highly recommend reading this

The writing is fine, but the subject matter, with its detailed recounting of dealings by all the shady players with complicated, difficult names, can be a slog. Nonetheless, extremely insightful, particularly in the era following the invasion of Ukraine

Items to look out for

This discourse is riveting, full of myriad signs and warnings about a man in charge of Russia and so much more. The biggest theme is the principle of 'manual control' over all decisions, and harsh consequences. This book builds the case against Putin's statements of democracy and growth, all methods unsettling of the current world position he won.

Sobering read

As a South African, I found this book sobering. Some eerie similarities with South Africa.

Important book on very important subject

Admittedly this book reads like the transcript from the Pipe Fitter’s Convention as a result of the academic tendency to an abundance of Russian names that can make it a challenge to glean the message. But the message, at least at its macro level, comes thru clearly and powerfully. It will and should startle westerners, but this is insight we must have. Never more so than in 2018 as we question not just whether they influence our elections, but why that matters—and it does!

Excellent book! Well researched and well written.

Where does Putin's Kleptocracy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the best book I've read/listened to on the subject. Another one I would recommend is "The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin" by Masha Gessen. Even though I've tried to keep with the subject by following the news and reading the books, I've found a lot of new material in this book. Some books filled with facts become hard to follow. This one is filled with facts but it is extremely well written, you listen to the story as if it was a Count of Monte Kristo, except that it is the real thing. This should be a must-read for members of Congress and U.S. Presidents as well as European politicians so that they would not "look into Putin's eyes and see his soul" or something like this, but instead would have a clear understanding what they are dealing with.

Any additional comments?

The artist reading the book -- Robert Petkoff -- is doing a pretty good job, even pronunciation of Russian terms and names is better than average in other audiobooks.

Research for this book is extensive

unveils the vail on the late decline of Russia, and how things have gone till and likely will. civil war might arise yet again in Russia

no pic companion-state dept testing makes harder

Would you try another book from Karen Dawisha and/or Robert Petkoff?

It is ok......but rather basic at times.....photos none Black Puzzles no go

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Out Putin ties to Kim Dot Com - 1990's none

Did Robert Petkoff do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

non

Could you see Putin's Kleptocracy being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

k

Any additional comments?

k

Stay Tuned for the sequel Obama's kleptocracy

informative interesting but no surprises. Starting to see parallels in the United States Obama's government