Graduate Institute of Russian Studies, NCCU

Does Putin Really Have Such Strong Public Support? What lies behind Russia's “stability”, and what does it cost? How is it that, despite Western sanctions, the human cost of the war and growing pressure on everyday life, Putin’s approval ratings have stayed remarkably high over the years, often ranging from 60% to 80%? Is this simply a genuine desire for strong leadership and order? Or is there something more complicated going on beneath the surface? In this episode of RU Classroom｜“Why Russia?”, Dr Lin Tsui is joined by Professor Jing-Yun Hsu, Director of the Graduate Institute of Russian Studies at NCCU, to take a closer look at the power structure behind Putin's rule and the difficult choices facing Russian society. From Russia’s turbulent history to the politics of the present day, we explore a question that is not quite as straightforward as it first appears: Is Putin's popularity really about Putin, or is it also about what came before him? For many Russians, the turmoil of the 1990s is still part of the story. The promise of stability, security and restored national pride may come with a price, but it also raises a much bigger question: how do you balance great-power status, social stability and individual freedom? So, what does Putin’s enduring support actually tell us about Russia? ???? RU Classroom｜“Why Russia?” EP. 2 Putin, public support, and the price of stability. ???? Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lya-U6FMMno (Media in Chinese)  

- Why does Russia often seem so difficult to understand? - Why is the relationship between Russia and Ukraine so complex? - And how can we better understand Russia? Professor Lin Tsui of Tamkang University as she explores Russia through the lenses of history, culture, politics and international relations. Knowledge series:「Russia，Why？」 Going beyond what happened, this series invites you to ask the more important question: Why? Watch now and discover a different perspective on Russia. https://youtu.be/kLJ1AERBjD0?si=D0wad4esHKWC2iWO (A Chinese-language programme)