7. The Ultimate Insult

7. The Ultimate Insult

Author: BBC Radio 4 April 1, 2022 Duration: 31:33

False flags, brutal military tactics and aspirations of greatness – Putin’s approach to the war in Syria, as he tries to prove Russia is still a power-broker in the Middle East.

To understand how Putin views history and his place in it, Jonny Dymond is joined by:

Professor Angela Stent of the Brookings Institution, a former national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the US National Intelligence Council Anatol Lieven of the Quincy Institute Kevin Connolly, former BBC Moscow and Middle East correspondent.

Producers: Caroline Bayley, Sandra Kanthal and Joe Kent Production coordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed Sound engineer: Rod Farquhar Series Editor: Emma Rippon Commissioning Editor: Richard Knight.


How does a man shape a nation, and how does a nation, in turn, shape the man? Putin, from BBC Radio 4, is a deep and necessary exploration of this question, moving far beyond the headlines to trace the personal and political forces that forged the Russian leader. Host Jonny Dymond guides this series, weaving together the pivotal moments from a childhood in post-war Leningrad to the corridors of the KGB and the ultimate consolidation of power in the Kremlin. This isn't just a biography; it's a layered investigation into the motivations and worldview of a figure who has defined an era. The narrative is built with insights from a range of voices-analysts who have studied his strategies, journalists who have chronicled his rise, and diplomats who have sat across the table from him. Each episode of this podcast feels like assembling a complex portrait, piece by piece, revealing how personal history is inextricably linked to global consequence. By focusing on the trajectory of one life, the series illuminates the broader currents of society, culture, and power politics that continue to resonate today. For anyone seeking context behind contemporary events, this meticulously produced podcast offers an essential and compelling journey into the past to better comprehend the present.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 16

Putin
Podcast Episodes
4. The Shallow Roots of Democracy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:05
Cementing power in Russia, a revolution in Ukraine and a challenge to the US - Jonny Dymond examines Vladimir Putin’s second term as president. To help him make sense of how this tumultuous period from 2004 to 2008 began…
3. Unleashing power [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:52
President Putin turns on the men who manoeuvred him to power, he turns on the media and turns to the West with an offer of support after 9/11. According to Britain’s former ambassador to Russia, there are two sides to Pu…
2. Out of the shadows [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:01
Operation successor: the story behind the Russian president's mysterious rise to power. From bag carrier to the most powerful man in Russia. In just a few years Vladimir Putin went from working for the mayor of St Peters…
1. The Moth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:05
From street thug to spy – what the Russian president did before he came to power. To understand what Vladimir Putin might do in the future, you need to understand his past; where he’s come from, what he’s lived through,…
Introducing Putin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30
Jonny Dymond tells the extraordinary and revealing story of Vladimir Putin's life.