Philip Short is a British author and journalist known for his detailed biographies of political leaders from various countries, offering in-depth insights into their lives, leadership styles, and the impacts they had on their nations and the world. Born in 1945, Short has had a distinguished career as a foreign correspondent for the BBC, reporting from numerous countries over several decades. This extensive experience has provided him with a unique perspective on global affairs, which he has adeptly translated into his writing.
Short's work is characterized by meticulous research and an objective approach to storytelling, striving to present a balanced view of his subjects' complex personalities and controversial decisions. His biographies often draw from a wide range of sources, including interviews, archival material, and Short's own firsthand observations, to paint a comprehensive picture of each leader's life and times.
Among Philip Short's notable works are:
"Mao: A Life": A biography of Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China, detailing his journey from a young revolutionary to a paramount leader whose policies shaped modern China, for better or worse.
"Pol Pot: Anatomy of a Nightmare": An examination of the life of the Khmer Rouge leader responsible for the Cambodian genocide, exploring the social and political conditions that led to his rise and the tragic consequences of his regime.
"A Taste for Intrigue: The Multiple Lives of François Mitterrand": This book delves into the life of François Mitterrand, the long-serving President of France, revealing the complexities and contradictions of his political and personal life.
"Putin": His biography of Vladimir Putin offers an insightful look into the Russian president's rise to power, his leadership style, and the implications of his policies for Russia and its relationship with the rest of the world.
Short's biographies are not only portraits of individual leaders but also explorations of the countries and historical moments they influenced. Through his work, Philip Short contributes to a deeper understanding of global political history and the figures who have shaped it.
Today, I will discuss his book Putin. Overall, I can say this: Putin is clearly not the villain he is typically made out to be in western media. Of course, he is not a saint either. Short is not trying to portray Putin this way but rather give a fair hearing, and the fair hearing means Putin comes out looking like an average corrupt politician.
When you don’t fall victim to the obvious psyops that such cases as the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, the Navalny affair and the Sergei Magnitsky / Bill Browder affair Putin’s case is even stronger. Putin is blamed for all three but at the very least, each one of these stories is not so simple and, more likely, western intelligence agencies are truly guilty and framed Putin. Short falls for each one of these hoaxes but is rather fair otherwise from a mainstream perspective.
Short's biography excels in placing Putin's rise and reign within the broader tapestry of Russian and post-Soviet history. It painstakingly details Putin's early life in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), his career in the KGB, and his unexpected ascent to the pinnacle of Russian politics. This contextual groundwork is crucial, as it humanizes Putin, showing how his personal experiences with post-war Soviet hardship, the chaotic fall of the USSR, and the turbulent 1990s influenced his worldview and leadership style.
The book does not shy away from the controversies and criticisms that have marred Putin's tenure—be it allegations of election tampering, suppression of dissent, or foreign policy aggressions. However, Short endeavors to present these aspects of Putin's rule within the context of a leader grappling with the immense challenge of stabilizing and restoring a nation reeling from the identity crisis and economic turmoil of the post-Soviet era.
One of the biography's strengths is its nuanced portrayal of Putin as a product of his environment, a man who believes deeply in restoring Russia's place on the world stage and who employs both traditional and unorthodox methods to achieve this end. Short suggests that Putin's actions, however contentious, are not the behaviors of an outlier but rather those of a politician navigating the complex realities of power, both within Russia and on the global front.
Short also draws parallels between Putin and other global leaders, past and present, who have faced similar dilemmas between governance, personal belief systems, and the international order. This comparative analysis helps to demystify Putin, presenting him as a leader not categorically different from his counterparts in other nations. He is depicted as someone driven by a mix of ambition, pragmatism, and a particular vision for his country—a mix familiar in the annals of political leadership.
Overall I can highly recommend this book. It is thorough, well researched, fair argued and very informative. It will take time and effort, it is not always an easy read but almost certainly will be beneficial to readers for a more fair view of world affairs and may just help in repairing a needlessly hostile relationship between the US and Russia.