Putin isn’t simply a reactive and defensive actor on the world stage. His stated ambition is to restore the Russian empire. Moreover, he is arguably the foremost leader of a growing worldwide autocratic, fascist like movement. It isn’t a coincidence that Trump and other leaders of like mind here and abroad admire him. This isn’t an argument to turn the tempature up in an already explosive conflagration or step back from serious negotiations. Just the opposite. But it should figure into how we understand Putin – his actions and aims.
Written by
Sam Webb
I'm a long-time socialist and activist, but new to the blogging world. I hope to bring a different perspective on politics, sports, culture, and Marxism. Besides blogging, I also leave plenty of time for swimming, hiking, ESPN, music, reading, drinking good beer, and, not least, my family and friends. I wish I could play basketball, but my knees ruled out that possibility long ago.
While I currently reside in New York, my politically formative years were spent in Portland, Me. and Detroit during the 1970s and 1980s. I graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia (where I played basketball) and received a MA in economics from the University of Connecticut.
I was the national chairperson of the Communist Party, USA from 2000 until 2014 when I stepped down at the convention. In 2016 I resigned from the Communist Party two years later. We were no longer on the same page.
