Questioning Putin’s Popularity

Russia’s pre-eminent leader, Vladimir Putin, has always had very high approval ratings, as both president and prime minister. This article argues that Russia’s electoral authoritarian political system is an essential precondition of these ratings. The discussion begins by presenting comparative evidence suggesting that prolonged, very high approval ratings are only possible in authoritarian states. Then the article examines Putin’s record in office, which is the main explanation for his popularity. The analysis shows (by drawing on comparative evidence) that while there have been achievements, overall Putin’s record is not a sufficient explanation for such high ratings. Finally, the article examines ways in which Russia’s authoritarian political system works to bolster Putin’s approval rating. The article concludes that authoritarianism, while not the only explanation, is the sine qua non of Putin’s approval ratings.