From Chechnya to Ukraine, from Moscow’s weakened diplomacy to the rise of open-source intelligence, Christian Caryl sees a Russian system far more fragile than it appears.
In this five-part conversation with Jacob Heilbrunn, the Foreign Policy Magazine columnist explains how Putin’s vulnerabilities are multiplying: Ramzan Kadyrov’s uncertain future, Ukraine’s drone warfare deep inside Russia, Moscow’s dependence on China, Europe’s energy emancipation, and the growing power of a pluralistic Ukrainian democracy on Russia’s border.
Behind the image of control, Caryl describes a chaotic, corrupt and volatile system.
Authoritarian regimes can endure.
But they can also crack suddenly.
Christian Caryl Decodes Putin’s Fragile Empire
by
June 2026
Recent Articles
Beyond Hasbara: A Strategic Doctrine for Winning the Battle of Ideas
Israel is investing tens of millions of dollars to stem the loss of support in the United States. According to a report in Haaretz, the government is significantly expanding its influence efforts, with a budget exceeding $40 million directed primarily at Republican and Christian audiences. The main contract with a public relations firm has reportedly […]
Lindsey Graham’s Leaves a Void
With the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, the Republican Party has lost one of its most consequential foreign policy leaders. Graham represented a tradition of conservative internationalism that combined military strength with economic statecraft, democratic values, and an unwavering belief that American leadership remains indispensable. That tradition deserves to endure. He leaves very big shoes […]
Israel and the Illusion of Permanent Victory
What if the greatest danger in world politics is not military weakness, but the illusion that military power can guarantee lasting security? In The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune, Professor Emeritus Louis René Beres argues that even decisive victories cannot eliminate the deeper forces driving war, terrorism and disorder. For Israel, as for every state, repeated conflict […]
