President Vladimir Putin is often portrayed by Western policymakers as the sole force behind the Kremlin’s decisions. Yet this ignores the role played by collective bodies and institutions, as well as various interest groups.
Building on their chapters in the recently published Chatham House report Myths and misconceptions in the debate on Russia, the speakers explain why Putin is not involved in every policy choice and how government decisions are reached. They also discuss how understanding the Kremlin’s decision-making process could improve Western policy towards Russia.