Putin Research Articles

Kernels of selfhood: GPT-4o shows humanlike patterns of cognitive dissonance moderated by free choice

Large language models (LLMs) show emergent patterns that mimic human cognition. We explore whether they also mirror other, less deliberative human psychological processes. Drawing upon classical theories of cognitive consistency, two preregistered studies tested whether GPT-4o changed its attitudes toward Vladimir Putin in the direction of a positive or negative essay it wrote about the Russian leader. Indeed, GPT displayed patterns of attitude change mimicking cognitive dissonance effects in humans. Even more remarkably, the degree of change increased sharply when the LLM was offered an illusion of choice about which essay (positive or negative) to write, suggesting that GPT-4o manifests a functional analog of humanlike selfhood. The exact mechanisms by which the model mimics human attitude change and self-referential processing remain to be understood.

Artificial Intelligence in Translation: Advantages and Limitations

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) development have significantly improved the quality of machine translation, resulting in more accurate and correct translated texts. However, the ability of AI to replace human translators completely is under consideration. The aim of the study is to trace the degree of adequacy of AI-assisted translation and identify its limitations. The authors explored the text of Vladimir Putin's interview to the American journalist Tucker Carlson given on 9 February 2024 and its English translations: the official translation posted on the Kremlin website and the translation obtained using the DeepL platform, which is currently regarded as the most accurate AI translator. The research focused on the semantic, grammatical, stylistic and pragmatic adequacy of the two translated versions. The comparative analysis revealed a number of limitations of neural machine translation, indicating the insufficient ability of AI to make the right choice between the meanings of polysemantic words, recognize figurative meanings of words, adequately interpret phraseological expressions and find their translation correspondences, discern the syntactic structure of the sentences, note expressive and other stylistic nuances, take into account the linguistic and sociocultural context. The results of the study prove the need for post-machine editing. They may find application in neurolinguistics and contribute to the development of neural machine translation.

Организационно-методическая компетенция тренера в условиях производственной педагогической практики в сельской местности

In practice, physical education is an efficient measure for preventing antisocial behaviour among the population. This is especially relevant in rural areas. To date, rural areas of the country are characterised by a low development level of social and engineering infrastructure, compared to urban areas. In addition, there is a problem concerning the lack of funding for the development of sports infrastructure, the system of physical culture and sports events, as well as the attraction of sports personnel to rural settlements. These factors lead to a low level of physical training of children and young people in rural areas. In order to attract sports personnel to rural areas, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has instructed to launch the federal programme ‘Zemsky trener [country trainer]’ from 2025, according to which every trainer who moves to a village, working-class settlement, urban-type settlement or town with a population of less than 50,000 people will receive a one-time payment of 1 million roubles. At present, physical training is of particular importance for rural residents as future specialists in the agro-industrial complex, since the country’s food security depends on the efficiency of the agricultural sector. Therefore, it is important to acquaint the rural youth with physical culture since their school days instilling a need for physical activity, which will ensure an optimal level of health, good physical fitness and high-performance capability of rural residents. All this cannot be achieved without a well-qualified trainer with the necessary competences.

Priming with Fear: Putin’s Manipulation of Domestic Public Support

Abstract Manipulative rhetoric has long proven to be an effective tool for political leaders seeking to influence social behavior. Yet, the nuances of these manipulative tactics remain understudied in autocracies. Using the Russian case under Vladimir Putin’s presidency, I test and show how priming and terror management theories explain Putin’s high approval rating under economic circumstances where research would otherwise expect approval to wane. Specifically, I employ text-as-data methods to identify Putin’s priming emphasis on an existential threat emanating from Western countries. I furthermore argue and find that this “external threat” priming tactic utilized by Putin helps him to instill existential fear among citizens. This, in turn, stimulates narratives of national unification and deflects people’s attention away from Russia’s economic decline. In leveraging my text-as-data measures within a series of secondary statistical analyses, I then determine that (i) while external threat priming does not affect public approval alone, (ii) such threat narratives, nevertheless, allow Putin to maintain an especially high approval rating during times of domestic economic turmoil.

In Search of the Roots of Failure: Reassessing Russian Politics in the 1990s

Abstract The ongoing discussion about Russian politics in the 1990s revolves around narratives of democratization (which seemingly ended in the 2000s under Vladimir Putin’s leadership) and neoliberal market reforms (which seemingly paved the way for the country’s authoritarian drift). However, it is time to reassess the Russian experience of the 1990s from a different perspective. In this article, I argue that the political and institutional foundations of the Russian personalist authoritarian regime were laid during the 1990s. The process of the Soviet collapse significantly contributed to Russia’s succession of the Soviet state and its reliance on various legacies of the Soviet Union in domestic politics and foreign policy. At the same time, Russia’s elites and leaders in the 1990s had little interest in building electoral democracy (which implies the possibility of losing power through electoral means) and intended to maximize their power amid major political and economic changes. They intentionally rejected political compromises, effectively used political polarization at every critical juncture of Russian politics in the 1990s, and opted for the least democratic solutions. While democratization in Russia during the 1990s was sacrificed for the sake of market reforms amid a long and deep transformational recession, the authoritarian turn of the country was postponed to the future.

American Public Opinion on US Responses to Russia's Nuclear Threats in Ukraine

ABSTRACTSince Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, President Vladimir Putin's nuclear threats have reshaped the global nuclear landscape, potentially altering public attitudes toward nuclear deterrence and weapons use. This article examines American preferences for United States responses—nuclear, conventional, or nonmilitary—to three hypothetical scenarios involving Russia's potential use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine. Drawing on data from the 2022 National Security Survey by the Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, we find that the American public generally favors conventional military responses over nuclear options, even in the face of increased nuclear threats. Qualitative analysis reveals that respondents primarily apply a “logic of consequences,” prioritizing strategic military utility over ethical or normative concerns when considering responses. These findings have significant implications for US nuclear policy and the theoretical discourse on nuclear nonuse.

‘Limitless’ Sino-Russian Cooperation in the Arctic? Drivers and barriers shaping China and Russia’s Cooperation in the region

ABSTRACT China and Russia are increasing their cooperation in the Arctic region. This article explores the drivers and barriers to Sino-Russian cooperation in the Arctic region by applying a neoclassical realist lens. The article finds that the key systemic driver which pushes Sino-Russian cooperation in the Arctic forward is the changing balance of power with the United States. Domestic drivers, including the domestic economies of China and Russia, as well as leader images of Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, play an important role. Nonetheless, China and Russia’s Arctic cooperation is not limitless despite the official proclamation by the two states of a ‘no limits' partnership. The article finds that the two key barriers to Sino-Russian cooperation in the Arctic are the regional balance of power and China’s economic interests with Western states. Furthermore, there are certain domestic constraints within the Russian Arctic stand in the way of further cooperation between the two states in the region.

Zeitenwende: Eine Weltschmerzgeschichte aus dem Weltanschauungskindergarten

Abstract Vladimir Putin underestimated the war against Ukraine on several levels, both in terms of the response within Ukraine and, above all, in terms of the response from the US and Europe. What can we learn from this? What policies should Europe pursue? What signals should it send to Putin to prevent him from attacking other European states? A game-theoretic analysis.

Mongolia in 2023 and 2024

From the uncertainty of a global pandemic, the Mongolian economy has stabilized through coal and copper exports over the past two years. Political developments culminated in the parliamentary election of June 28, 2024, which led to a continuation of the Mongolian People’s Party government, albeit in a new coalition with the Democratic Party and the HUN Party. Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene continues to lead the government, and few policy changes are expected from the shift to a coalition. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to reverberate around the world and to define Mongolia’s geopolitical situation. Domestic opinion remains divided on relations with Russia, while Russian President Putin continues to exhibit the attitude of a benevolent regional hegemon toward countries like Mongolia. The confrontation with the Russian regime has led OECD countries and some Asian countries to intensify relations with and official visits to Mongolia.

ADJACENCY PAIRS IN THE INTERVIEW OF TUCKER CARLSON AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN (2024): A CONVERSATIONAL ANALYSIS

Adjacency pairs are two-part exchanges in which the first utterance triggers a certain response from the second response from the second utterance. This research aims to 1) identify conversation patterns and 2) describe the types of responses that appear based on adjacency pairs in the interviews. The method used is descriptive qualitative, in which data is was collected from the video interview which is the Tucker Carlson Interviews Vladimir Putin and then analyzed it using the adjacency pairs theory. The results of the study revealed that from a total of 34 data analyzed, the “Question-Answer/Unanswered” pattern dominates with 29 cases out of a total of 34 data or about (85%), Other patterns such as “Assessment-Agreement/Disagreement” and “Request-Acceptance/Refusal” appear less frequently, each of which is only 3 times out of a total of 34 data or about (8%). about (8%), while the patterns “Offer/Invite-Acceptance/Refusal” and “Blame-Denial/Admission” were not found at all. Meanwhile, the type of response that was obtained showed that the Preferred response was more dominant with 18 cases or (8%) response is more dominant with 18 cases or (52%) compared to Dispreferred which amounted to 15 cases or (44%).

Formation of students’ predictive skills in the process of pedagogical modeling

The article discusses the formation of students’ predictive skills, the presence of which is an important component of the professional competence of future specialists. In the context of pedagogical design, using a specific example, the authors analyze the use of the project method as an opportunity for intellectual and personal development of students of secondary vocational education. The importance of the chosen research topic is confirmed by the discussion of issues on priority areas of scientific and technological development of engineering personnel, emphasized on 02/06/2025 by President Putin V. V. at a videoconference meeting of the Council on Science and Education: “The main demand on the labor market in Russia in the coming years will be for specialists with secondary specialized education. That’s over 60%.” Special attention in the study is paid to the development of the structure of students’ predictive skills. The authors present groups of predictive skills – knowledge, technical and creative. Based on the developed structure of students’ predictive skills, the author’s interpretation reveals the essence of the studied skills, gives their characteristics by substantiating specific indicators. It seems that at the further stage of the dissertation research, the developed structure of predictive skills of students will be the basis for assessing the level of formation of students’ skills. The practical use of the project method underlying this process, according to the authors, allows students to form a set of predictive skills, which include the ability to formulate the purpose and hypothesis of the upcoming study of the object, a description of the expected result, discussion of the ideological concept of the object, the development of an algorithm for solving the problem, as well as the search for alternatives to the necessary solutions when There are other adjustments. Pedagogical support of the process is considered as a necessary condition for the effectiveness of the process of forming students’ predictive skills.

Soft Hegemony in the Shared Neighbourhood: How the European Union and Russia Co-opted Moldovan and Armenian Societies between 2000 and 2021

This article analyses how the European Union and Russia influenced domestic ideas in neighbouring countries by comparing EU and Russian cultural diplomacy in Moldova and Armenia from Vladimir Putin’s first presidency, starting in 2000, up to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It shows that both actors used the same mechanism albeit in different ways: the European Union promoted a shared culture and belief system grounded in diversity and liberal values; Russia advanced its understanding of cultural unity, traditional values and shared language as well as its practices of Othering. These activities were perceived differently in the two countries, showing that more attention needs to be paid to local and national contexts as well as existing ideologies.

Offsetting Audience Costs: Intra-Regime Bargaining during Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine

ABSTRACT The Russo-Ukrainian war is often viewed through Russia’s top-down directives under President Putin. Yet this article argues that intragovernmental bargaining—beyond simple coercion—has shaped crucial wartime policies. The article examines how the Kremlin negotiated with domestic actors on the eve and during the war to limit defections and assign accountability for risky decisions. Such bargaining partially offsets the audience costs that arise if the war falters and shapes nuclear escalation discourse. This study challenges portrayals of Putin as an unrestrained strongman, showing that even personalist autocrats often seek buy-in from key domestic actors to sustain stability in high-stakes conflicts.

Kształtowanie ideologii putinizmu w Federacji Rosyjskiej

Over the past few decades, the rise of Putinism has attracted worldwide attention, transfor ming not only the Russian political scene, but also affecting international relations generally. This article delves into the complex and multi-level phenomenon of the ideology that lies at the root of Putinism, analyzing its basic assumptions, historical antecedents and contemporary manifestations. Based on a multidisciplinary approach, this academic article begins by tracing the ideological foundations of Pu tinism, examining its connections to Russian history, culture and political traditions. Also, the article highlights and explains the geopolitical dimensions of Putinism, analyzing Vladimir Putin’s approach to such issues as sovereignty, nationalism, and the role of the Russian Federation on the contempora ry international scene. The study presents the socio-political aspects of Putinism’s ideology, based on statism, nationalism, and social conservatism.

Glorified Images of Soviet State Security and Intelligence Services

Abstract This survey article critically evaluates books about the Soviet-era state security and intelligence services published in Russia over the past quarter century by eight major pro-regime publishers. The article underscores the publishing houses’ efforts to foster a laudatory image of Soviet-era security and intelligence services in the broader context of the return of “Chekism” (idolization of state security agencies) under Russian President Vladimir Putin, who himself was a product of the Soviet State Security Committee (KGB), and the restoration of a repressive, authoritarian system in Russia. The article surveys more than 50 books and provides short biographical notes on the intelligence authors, historians, and retired Chekists-turned-writers in Putin's Russia.

Anyone can be a hero: the militarization of children in Putin's Russia

Abstract Vladimir Putin's Russia places a great deal of emphasis on the patriotic education of its children and young people, which includes encouraging them to embrace the glorification of war and provide unconditional support for Russia's armed forces. The state's efforts to militarize Russia's youth have accelerated since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and increasingly rely on the appeal of heroism and heroes as role models to engage and inspire young people. War-related heroic behaviours are presented as an attainable ideal for youth that can be developed by participating in a range of exciting activities. This article focuses on the hero-making activities of two state-sponsored patriotic youth groups, the Youth Army and the Victory Volunteers, during the first 100 days following Russia's mass invasion of Ukraine. It draws attention to the embodied and immersive nature of these activities, and especially the emphasis on forging emotional bonds between young people and those who have experienced war. The efforts of the Youth Army and the Victory Volunteers to prepare future generations of Russians to accept the idea of war reveal the state's expectations that it will continue to need a war-supportive society into the foreseeable future.

‘Traditional values’ as a cure: The biopolitics of HIV in Putin’s Russia

This article examines the biopolitical dimensions of Russia’s response to HIV within the ideological framework of ‘traditional values’ promoted by the Putin administration since the early 2010s. Through a discourse analysis of state-affiliated expert rhetoric and policy documents, the study elucidates how HIV has come to be framed as a moral, political, and national security threat, rather than a public health crisis. It argues that the Kremlin’s turn to conservative, exclusionary frames has facilitated the externalisation of HIV as a problem resulting from the imposition of “Western” values and the “risky behaviour” these values allegedly promote. The paper situates these discursive features within the broader contexts of authoritarian neoliberalism, securitisation, and necropolitics, highlighting the link between the discursive stigmatisation of marginalised groups and the systematic withdrawal of resources from HIV treatment and prevention. By so doing, the Russian government enacts a sovereign biopolitics through which access to evidence-based care is increasingly denied to people and groups whom the state constructs as a ‘threat’ to society.

Iran and Russia on the path to building a comprehensive, principled partnership

The article deals with the main provisions of the Treaty on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation of 17 January 2025. The study examines the historical context, legal foundations, and strategic implications of the treaty, which marks a new era in bilateral relations. The agreement, signed by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian, outlines a 20-year framework for cooperation in various domains, including security, defense, economy, energy, and regional stability. The research methodology involves a qualitative analysis of treaty provisions and their alignment with previous agreements between the two nations, such as the 1921 Treaty between Persia and USSR and the 2001 Treaty on the Fundamentals of Relations. The study also incorporates geopolitical and economic evaluations to assess the treaty's potential impact. The results highlight that the treaty establishes a strong legal foundation for cooperation, enhancing military and technical collaboration, promoting trade and economic partnerships, and reinforcing mutual non-interference principles. A significant emphasis is placed on energy projects, including oil, gas, and nuclear initiatives, as well as the development of the International North–South Transport Corridor. Additionally, the agreement outlines cooperative mechanisms for countering unilateral sanctions and advancing multipolar international governance. The treaty signifies a strategic shift in Eurasian geopolitics, positioning Iran and Russia as key allies in regional security and economic integration. The findings suggest that this agreement will likely have long-term implications for international relations, particularly in Central Asia, the Middle East, and the broader Eurasia.

Socio-economic model of the new system of higher environmental education in Russia

IntroductionThe article covers the problem of a reforming system of higher environmental education in the Russian Federation. According to a special decree no. 343 “On some issues of improving the higher education system” in Russia signed by the President Vladimir Putin in May 2023, the country is currently facing the transformation of the levels of its higher education. A new basic and specialized university education is becoming on the agenda, including its environmental profile. The goal of this study is to evaluate and analyze the new system of higher environmental education in Russia from the perspective of its social and economic functioning by referring to the mathematical graph theory.MethodsGraphs have become an efficient and useful instrument of assessment of various scientific phenomena including the development of the socio-economic model of higher environmental education in the Russian state. A working hypothesis was introduced to debate on the issue of an efficacy of the academic and educational reforms at the country's university level of the environmental acquisition. In the end, the research suggests an opportunistic development of the reforming system of the higher environmental education in Russia on the terms of its economic, ecological, and social principles.ResultsThe results of the study have demonstrated that 89.1% of the respondents consider themselves environmentally friendly people striving to follow the principles of sustainable development in the modern world. Simultaneously, almost 94% of young people surveyed believe that university students should be environmentally active and help their university build a more sustainable and healthy academic and research environment. Statistical data in the analyzed graph G has showed the maximum sums of weights on the nodes which reflect the indicators of domestic state policy (20.84); foreign state policy (21.4); demands for environmental specialists in the world (21.01); environmentally caused diseases in Russia and the world (16.00); the knowledge of foreign languages as a tool that expands general educational horizons about sustainable development of the planet (12.50).DiscussionThe study concludes that the Russian Federation is aligning its educational reforms with global trends in sustainable development. Educational programs in universities, focused on the environmental profile of training, should be aimed at highlighting the key environmental challenges in the country. Therefore, the socio-economic model of the new system of higher environmental education in the Russian Federation is taking place; it is relevant, timely set and has favorable prospects for its further development. In the end, the studied socio-economic model of the higher environmental education in the country can be risk-oriented. Therefore, it is highly recommended focusing on the further research and analysis of the potential risks that can limit the efficacy of the system functioning and evolution in the future.

Inconsistency of US policy toward Russia in the 21st century and the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022

This article examines Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch an attack on Ukraine in 2022, with particular attention to the United States’ policy toward Russia and Putin’s perception of it. The core argument is that Putin’s neo-imperial policy, deeply rooted in Russia’s history, identity, and desired global position, is the driving force behind the attack on Ukraine. The primary focus is on Putin’s interpretation of US policy. The absence of a consistent US stance toward Russia provided Putin with an opportunity to pursue his neo-imperial agenda, anticipating a lack of sustained response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.