Authors

Discussion

This paper analyses the changing themes of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s populist messaging during his 25 years at the apex of Russian politics. To reveal shifts in Putin’s populist rhetoric, the article examines Russian media framing of his five president election campaigns and of Russia’s relations with Ukraine, China and the United States. Public opinion data is used to assess the impact of Putin’s populist messaging. The article begins by assessing to what degree Vladimir Putin can be considered a populist politician, concluding that while his rhetoric is populist his rule is not. The article further finds that Putin has maintained his populist appeal by turning his ire from domestic economic elites to international political enemies, specifically by positioning himself as the main challenger to U.S. hegemony and in the global system. Putin’s control of the Russian media, co-opting of opposition populist causes and geopolitical victories in Georgia, Syria and Crimea have helped him maintain his populist connection with Russian voters. But, the article concludes, the pain of war and economic sanctions, botched social welfare reforms and the availability of anti-Kremlin online media are causing Putin’s populism to lose its lustre.