‘Putin could fall if he loses the support of a few hundred people’

The Bell editor Viacheslav Dvornikov spoke to political scientist Marcel Dirsus, author of the acclaimed new book, "How Tyrants Fall," about what his study of dictatorships and autocrats suggests is in store for the Putin regime — and how his demise could come about. The full interview is available here.

Despite their outward monolithic appearance, autocratic regimes have a number of weaknesses, says Dirsus. But the bad news is that democratization after dictatorships is extremely rare....