GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
The World Cup: Putin's Political Panacea
Jul 14, 2018 | 09:00 GMT
(Pool/Getty Images)
Highlights
- By hosting the World Cup, Russia managed to defuse international tensions, however temporarily, over incidents such as the attempted assassination of former Russian intelligence official Sergei Skripal.
- The tournament also helped the Kremlin avoid a public backlash over its decision, announced on the first day of the World Cup, to raise the retirement age — not least of all because public protests were banned in host cities during the monthlong event.
- Despite the World Cup's success as a diversionary tactic, it will do little to assuage Russians' economic and political grievances in the long run.
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