Putin’s People
By Catherine Belton
How the KGB Took Back Russia and then Took on the West. William Collins, 2020
Summary of Putin’s People book by Catherine Belton
Step behind the propaganda and inside the story of Putin’s rise to power—from near-obscurity in East Germany to his ruthless grip of the Kremlin today—and discover how the KGB crushed the free market of the 1990s and remade Russia in their image.
Chapters in Putin’s People book summary
What do you get from this book? Experience Putin’s rise and its alarming consequences for Russia and the world
Putin learned the KGB techniques that propelled him to the presidency early in his career in Dresden, east Germany
Putin’s post-soviet career in the St Petersburg mayor’s office offered criminal connections that set a pattern in his politics
The 1990s saw Russia’s economy fall into the hands of freewheeling oligarchs before collapsing in 1998
Putin started out in obscurity, but powerful allies propelled him to the presidency
Chechen “terrorism” and Putin’s war in response brought carnage, in which the KGB may have been involved themselves
The “oil wars” were the first big step in turning Russia into Putin’s own personal kleptocracy
Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s “show trial” was the beginning of the end for honest business across Russia
Corruption became part of the fabric of Russian life, and Putin’s people needed a slice of everything
Russian “black cash” has infected London, and is entangling big businesses across the west
Russian interference in Ukraine started with attacks on pro-European politicians, and continued with the annexation of Crimea
The Russian orthodox church and its sponsors abroad are instrumental in Putin’s cultural strategy
Kremlin slush funds are funding KGB assaults on western democracy, including support for Donald trump’s election campaigns
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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Putin’s People — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Putin’s People book
- International politics buffs
- budding communists
- John Le Carré fans
- businesspeople
About the author of Putin’s People
Catherine Belton
Former Moscow correspondent for the Financial Times, Catherine Belton is a Reuters journalist who has previously been nominated for Business Journalist of the Year by the British Press Awards. She has also worked for the Moscow Times.
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