The Return of the Russian Leviathan

The Return of the Russian Leviathan examines contemporary Russia under Putin's leadership through a collection of essays written between 2014-2018. The book analyzes Russia's political transformation and the resurgence of imperial ambitions. Medvedev, a prominent Russian scholar and critic, explores topics including the annexation of Crimea, the cult of World War II victory, and the complex relationship between the state and Russian Orthodox Church. His essays draw from history, politics, economics and cultural studies to present a portrait of modern Russia. The text investigates how collective memory, national myths, and state propaganda shape Russian society and policy. Medvedev documents the ways Soviet-era attitudes and behaviors have reemerged in new forms. The book argues that Russia has revived an authoritarian model of state power, returning to historical patterns of imperial control and militarism. Through this lens, it offers insights into potential future developments in Russian domestic and foreign policy.

Readers note this book offers an insider's perspective on modern Russia's political transformation and Putin's regime. Many highlight Medvedev's analysis of how Russian propaganda and militarism shape public consciousness. Liked: - Clear explanations of complex historical events - Personal observations from within Russia - Analysis of Russian media manipulation - Translation quality from Russian to English Disliked: - Some repetition between chapters - Focus on recent events means some analysis may date quickly - A few readers found the academic tone challenging Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (32 ratings) Sample review: "Medvedev connects historical patterns to current events in ways that helped me understand why Russians accept authoritarianism" - Goodreads reviewer "The author's firsthand experience adds credibility, though the writing style can be dense" - Amazon reviewer

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🔹 Author Sergei Medvedev is a professor at Moscow's Higher School of Economics and was fired from his position after publicly criticizing Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. 🔹 The book won the 2020 Pushkin House Russian Book Prize, which recognizes the best non-fiction writing about the Russian-speaking world. 🔹 The title references Thomas Hobbes' "Leviathan" (1651), which used the biblical sea monster as a metaphor for an all-powerful state - drawing parallels between Hobbes' theory and modern Russia. 🔹 The book is structured as a collection of essays that examine how Russia's collective memory of World War II has been weaponized to justify modern military actions. 🔹 Medvedev argues that Russia's "body politics" - including the cult of physical strength and militarism - can be traced back to Soviet-era propaganda that emphasized the physical superiority of communist citizens.