Corruption in Russia is both carrot and stick. It's a carrot because it ensures Putin and his close circle loyalty from the larger elite in Russia, but at the same time, Putin may be fine with them stealing, but the question is always, how much? The stick comes in when he wants to redefine the parameters of acceptable theft.

Historian Sean Guillory examines Vladimir Putin from Russian eyes - as ideological figurehead of the post-Soviet capitalist ruling class, as shrewd arbiter of political and economic fortunes, and as target of a rising (but not yet coalescent) protest movement reacting to corruption and reduced state services.

Sean produces the very valuable and recommended Seans' Russia Blog podcast.