Russia's Authoritarian Drift: Language Reflects Repression Under Putin

A Foreign Policy essay examines how everyday Russian vocabulary has evolved to describe power, repression, and absurdity under Putin, reflecting a society increasingly normalized to authoritarian governance. The piece is analytical commentary rather than a discrete event, but it signals a cultural entrenchment of authoritarian norms. This matters as it underscores the depth of political control in Russia, with implications for domestic stability and foreign policy predictability.