Putin’s Taming of the Oligarchs

What role do the Russian oligarchs play in today’s world?

The oligarchs of Russia have been talked about occasionally as though they are the real power in Russia. In fact Putin went through and completely dominated the oligarchs who came to power when the USSR fell. They are still there (some of them are anyway) but only at Putin’s whim. This guy talks about it in this TEDx Talk:

YouTube : TEDx W Browder

Or you can read about it here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_oligarch

Between 2000 and 2004, Putin apparently engaged in a power struggle with some oligarchs, reaching a "grand bargain" with them. This bargain allowed the oligarchs to maintain their powers, in exchange for their explicit support of – and alignment with – Putin's government.

@athousandyoung said
What role do the Russian oligarchs play in today’s world?

The oligarchs of Russia have been talked about occasionally as though they are the real power in Russia. In fact Putin went through and completely dominated the oligarchs who came to power when the USSR fell. They are still there (some of them are anyway) but only at Putin’s whim. This guy talks about it i ...[text shortened]... powers, in exchange for their explicit support of – and alignment with – Putin's government.[/quote]

@kevcvs57 said
Yeah anyone who thinks that oligarchs can challenge Putin politically are in la la land but they are the vault in which Putin stashes his personal wealth plundered from the Russian people and they would quickly turn on Putin and side with another powerful clique if it emerged to challenge Putin from what is in effect a marshal state. When you freeze the assets of oligarchs you are also freezing the assets of the regime that Putin fronts