Comparing Ten of Putin’s Speeches

This book describes a study into several presentations by Vladimir Putin (Putin). The three purposes of this study are to gain insight into Putin’s words, to document a technique for analyzing such speeches, and to share what I learned. The themes identified in this study are accusation, challenge, directing, gratitude, information, opinion, platitude, promise, and warning. The stages of inclusivity examined are self, friends, people like us, citizens, and multinational. The variance between these presentations is measured multi-dimensionally and examined for clues about Putin’s intent. The technique used in this study is unveiled gradually with one layer added upon another layer sequentially until the full technique is defined.

What I gained from this study is an appreciation for Putin’s style of speech. He is clear and articulate. He varies his style to fit the occasion. He demonstrates leadership by pulling people toward common goals.