After Putin – what?

By calling for Putin’s removal from power, Western officials and scholars magnify Russian historic fears of a state collapse. Worse, they them by fueling the Kremlin propaganda machine reinforcing Russians’ reluctance to turn against their regime. Still, Putin will inevitably have go someday. When that day arrives, however, it is all but clear what future Russia be. Will after necessarily collapse? Or successor West with plea peace engage country in reforms modernization? History can still either way. But creating huge police force repel popular discontent, accumulating vast financial reserves escape sanctions, modifying constitution so ruler indefinitely remain has already laid groundwork whoever happens be his persevere current course aggression – where aggressor possesses world’s largest arsenal nuclear weapons.