The British Historian: Prof. Mark Galeotti

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, we’re joined by Professor Mark Galeotti, one of the world’s leading experts on modern Russia, for a sweeping conversation on authoritarianism, democracy, and the future of Putin’s regime.We explore:Why democracy failed in post-Soviet RussiaThe real legacy of Boris Yeltsin and the 1990sHow Putin rebuilt an authoritarian state with elite loyalty and public apathyRussia’s strategic culture and the "first punch" doctrineWhat comes after Putin—and how the war in Ukraine might endGrey zone warfare, gangsters as proxies, and Russia’s criminal statecraftHow democracies can resist authoritarian influence without sacrificing their valuesWhy Russian disinformation works—and why fact-checking alone won’t stop itKey Takeaways:“You can have rule of law without democracy, but not democracy without rule of law.”Putin's Russia is a hybrid of medieval court politics and 21st-century bureaucracy.The West enabled Russian authoritarianism by endorsing rigged elections and prioritising short-term stability over long-term democratic development.Today’s global struggle isn’t just military—it’s narrative, emotional, and psychological.Disinformation thrives where trust in institutions has already collapsed.Fixing democracy’s reputation means fixing democratic systems themselves.Russia’s alliances with Iran, China, and others are transactional—not ideological.“Democracy is a frustrating, unstable beast—but it can do amazing things if we fight for it.”Mark Galeotti’s Latest Book:Homo Criminalis — out now in the UK and Netherlands. U.S. release coming soon.Listen to Mark’s podcast: In Moscow’s ShadowsSupport the ShowThis podcast is entirely self-funded. If you value this work:Buy Me a Coffee Join our PatreonSupport the show