Okay,
Putinism was always on the roll, though with some rough patches intermittently.
But, it
seems the 10 days of break from public life has recharged the world's most
powerful dictator to take on the world again, the world efficiently pressed
under his boots and the world that he so eagerly wants to dominate, but is
incapable of.
The time
after his another stage managed coup to continue on top of everything in Russia
has not been good, particularly with his deepening adventures in Ukraine.
Though his
bravado, enveloped by his machismo, did earn Russia Crimea and pushed Ukraine
to a sustained internal war with rebels, it cost Russia heavily as well.
The meekness
of the western world, the European countries and the United States of America,
allowed Ukraine to be torn apart, and to save their faces, they resorted to the
routine of imposing sanctions.
But even this
routine step is proving effective and Russia is reeling under its after-effects.
Russian
economy is in bad shape and this derailment may prove out a worse nightmare for
Putin than the bad days of 'toned down economic blitzkrieg owing to the low energy
prices'.
The world
knows the Russian tiger was running fast fuelled by the oil money and
Putinism's genius had no role to play in it.
Oil prices
continue to remain low. And with the Ukraine (mis)adventure, the Russian tiger
is increasingly find itself in a quagmire with its pace nailed to a ground that
is positioned to remain unstable.
Latest
figures show the world a 'rapid economic contraction' in Russia, a Reuters
report says. Rouble has taken a massive hit and domestic consumption is feeling
the heat.
Though the
Russian leaders say the 'worst is over', the same is not shared by the outside
world.
The 'Crimea
Act' had earned Putin and Putinism brownie points in Russia under the garb of
patriotism and nationalism. It was after a long time that Putin enjoyed high
popularity ratings and it was in the 'aftermath' of his Ukraine calculations.
But the
continued downward economic spiral, adding to the bad days of the low oil
prices, was a potential trigger to darken the prospects of this 'patriotic'
Putin. To remain larger than life, Putin needs to push his 'ultra-patriot macho'
image because this only can give him the leverage to blunt the edge of any
potential voice against him in Russia.
Now, since
he has crushed the political opposition in Russia, he would like to downplay
any development that can give voice to the voiceless political opposition in
the country.
But, the
developments that can voice another round of political opposition as we saw
during 2011-12, during his bid on re-election as the next Russian President
(for the third term), are beyond his control - the oil prices and the economic
sanctions.
The Russian
economy is in shambles and Putin cannot do anything about it. But he can do to
make it look normalizing. He needs to create the mirrors of diversions and his
experience tells the 'nationalism of a macho' can handle it better.
So, after
the break that gave rise to colourful conspiracy theories like from fathering a
love child to ' being ousted in a silent coup by a group of powerful anti-Putinism
generals', he got back with a bang charging the world with his nuclear tongue.
After his
'surfacing up' act, he 'warned' the world that Russia was all set for a
'nuclear war' putting its nuclear forces on alert during Crimea annexation. For
the first time, in a voice that would sound 'heroic' to the Russians, he
admitted that Russian soldiers were in Crimea to take care of referendum and
annexation.
Next, his
'machismo' found friends in many leaders (read autocrats and dictators,
including Kim Jong-Un) to celebrate the 70th anniversary of World War II
victory (to be celebrated next month, so time to build up further on the propaganda).
And
yesterday, after reappearing act of March 16, Putin threatened Denmark. He
threatened Denmark to nuke the 'warships of the Danes' if they joined the
'missile defence shield' of NATO.
!!
Putinism's
nuclear tongue is on a roll and expect more of his 'ultra-patriotic-nationalistic-machismo'
speak to colour the pages of geopolitics as Putin's Russia moves ahead with
time trying to address it economic woes.