One of the most frequent questions I am asked about Russian politics is what it will take for new leadership to take hold in Russia. President Vladimir Putin has been in power for 20 years, and he has proposed amendments to the Russian Constitution that would keep him there for many years still. He enjoys consistently high popularity ratings that most world leaders probably eye with envy. He has seemed to be on the brink of demise before, but has managed to navigate every challenge. Now it looks like there is no political horizon to the Putin regime. Is there anything that can stop him? Will the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing economic problems in Russia cause Russians to want to move in a different political direction? Let’s take a look at the history of political change in Russia to see what lessons may be learned.
