Debates about Russia’s internal authoritarian politics have long been defined by questions over the relative importance of security or military elites compared to their civilian counterparts. Some have called Russia a militocracy, while others suggest the balance of power subordinates the military to bureaucrats. Accounts of the privileged position of other so-called power ministries, such as the FSB or the Interior Ministry, tend to fall somewhere in the middle. They are highly important, but not singularly so given the unique autocratic legitimacy that sits at the very heart of the Kremlin. Nevertheless, since the onset of the war in 2022, observers have noted the rising stature of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the FSB.
Continue Reading on The Moscow Times
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.