Dr. Marcel Dirsus

Yeah, I think Putin is a really interesting case. I talked to a lot of Russia experts while writing this, right? And what some of them argued is that essentially as Putin came in, he would listen to a lot of people that were technocrats. So these might have been people that previously ran a bank or they were like managers. They cared a lot about the economy. They wanted things to work, right?

If only because they wanted to make sure that the people who were at the top got more money. But as time went on, Putin started listening more and more to people that were more like him, intelligence officers in particular, but also people from the military. And obviously, these people have a certain mindset, right?

If only because they wanted to make sure that the people who were at the top got more money. But as time went on, Putin started listening more and more to people that were more like him, intelligence officers in particular, but also people from the military. And obviously, these people have a certain mindset, right?

If only because they wanted to make sure that the people who were at the top got more money. But as time went on, Putin started listening more and more to people that were more like him, intelligence officers in particular, but also people from the military. And obviously, these people have a certain mindset, right?

I mean, if you spent three decades in the KGB and you constantly see threats lurking everywhere, you have a certain way of looking at the world and you transfer that to the people that you're advising, in a sense. When he was making decisions, for example, with regard to Ukraine... These were the people that he was listening to. And they were telling him, no luck. The Americans are aggressive.

I mean, if you spent three decades in the KGB and you constantly see threats lurking everywhere, you have a certain way of looking at the world and you transfer that to the people that you're advising, in a sense. When he was making decisions, for example, with regard to Ukraine... These were the people that he was listening to. And they were telling him, no luck. The Americans are aggressive.

I mean, if you spent three decades in the KGB and you constantly see threats lurking everywhere, you have a certain way of looking at the world and you transfer that to the people that you're advising, in a sense. When he was making decisions, for example, with regard to Ukraine... These were the people that he was listening to. And they were telling him, no luck. The Americans are aggressive.

They're encroaching on our territory. We have to do something now. And then he would. And over time, he would become more and more belligerent. And then there would be a Western reaction. And then that Western reaction would seemingly confirm what the hawks from the intelligence service had been telling him. So they got even more powerful. So gradually you just detach. I see.

They're encroaching on our territory. We have to do something now. And then he would. And over time, he would become more and more belligerent. And then there would be a Western reaction. And then that Western reaction would seemingly confirm what the hawks from the intelligence service had been telling him. So they got even more powerful. So gradually you just detach. I see.

They're encroaching on our territory. We have to do something now. And then he would. And over time, he would become more and more belligerent. And then there would be a Western reaction. And then that Western reaction would seemingly confirm what the hawks from the intelligence service had been telling him. So they got even more powerful. So gradually you just detach. I see.

What are those people called again? Like Siloviki or something? You know what I'm talking about?

What are those people called again? Like Siloviki or something? You know what I'm talking about?

What are those people called again? Like Siloviki or something? You know what I'm talking about?

So men at arms almost. The intelligence services, basically, right? The people sort of working in the shadows.

So men at arms almost. The intelligence services, basically, right? The people sort of working in the shadows.

So men at arms almost. The intelligence services, basically, right? The people sort of working in the shadows.

So first of all, a lot of the people that take power are not in countries like the US or in modern Germany, right? So oftentimes you're looking at poorer countries where there might not be a lot of opportunity. or where the political system might already be disastrous. So it's not as if you are coming into power and creating a dictatorship, but there's already some sort of dictator.

So first of all, a lot of the people that take power are not in countries like the US or in modern Germany, right? So oftentimes you're looking at poorer countries where there might not be a lot of opportunity. or where the political system might already be disastrous. So it's not as if you are coming into power and creating a dictatorship, but there's already some sort of dictator.

So first of all, a lot of the people that take power are not in countries like the US or in modern Germany, right? So oftentimes you're looking at poorer countries where there might not be a lot of opportunity. or where the political system might already be disastrous. So it's not as if you are coming into power and creating a dictatorship, but there's already some sort of dictator.

And if there's already somebody like that, it might as well be you. But also the opportunities for enrichment are absolutely endless. Some of these people are literally embezzling billions, right? Money doesn't even go into the state budget. You don't even have to steal from the budget. You just divert it to your Swiss bank account straight away.