November 29, 2022
As Russia withdrew its troops from Kherson November 11, the man who ordered the war — and annexed that very region weeks earlier — went silent. Vladimir Putin has cast himself as a man of power who’s cool under fire, but he left it to his military to declare the retreat.
Can he get away with it? And how did he get to where he is?
Andrew Weiss, one of the most astute Russia analysts in the U.S., demystifies the long-serving autocrat in a new book, Accidental Czar: the Life and Lies of Vladimir Putin. This is a graphic novel in form, an authoritative biography in content. It was published this month.
This is the story of a middle-ranking intelligence operative with a thin resume who rises to power through corrupt wheeling-dealing in St. Petersburg. He worms his way into the inner circle of failed reformer Boris Yeltsin. The images are memorable: There’s Putin, the street thug, cornering a rat in a St. Petersburg apartment only to have the rat attack him; Putin at the door of the KGB begging in vain for a job; Putin claiming he single handedly held off a mob in East Germany in 1989 when all he did was call the Russian army for help.
Andrew Weiss has worked as a specialist on Russia in both Republican and Democratic administrations, serving at the White House National Security Council, the State Department and the Pentagon. He’s now vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington.
He will speak on the theme ‘Demystifying Putin” on Tuesday, Nov. 29. This will be an in-person presentation at the World Trade Center on the Inner Harbor.
Please join us! Reception at 5pm and presentation at 6pm. For those who can’t make it in person, this will be a hybrid presentation on Zoom
Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!
At the heart of this crisis are the political triggers. Armed conflicts, ethnic or religious persecutions, and systemic human rights abuses force millions to flee their homes in terror. Many are displaced within their own national boundaries, while others seek asylum abroad. If these factors change as a result of political shifts at home or the pressures from abroad, they can return to their homes. Forced displacement is thus different from environmentally driven displacement, as victims of climate change may never be able to return to their homes.
The ramifications of any sort of displacement are profound, not just for those directly affected, but also for host communities and countries. Overburdened infrastructures, socio-economic strains, and cultural tensions can arise, necessitating comprehensive strategies to foster harmony and integration. Yet the root causes of forced displacement can be remedied with a concerted focus by local players and international diplomacy.
Organizations like Refugees International play a crucial role in this arena, advocating for the rights and needs of the displaced, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and influencing policymakers to take informed actions. Their relentless work underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency ofinternational cooperation. But they, too, are overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of the crisis.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.
It’s not just about recognizing the problem; it’s about active engagement. We urge governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the rights and needs of the forced displaced. Through collective efforts, informed policies, and sustained advocacy, we can shift the narrative from passive acknowledgment to proactive intervention.
