This article is a comprehensive one. It delves into insights into the qualities of world leaders and quotes the example of an exceptional strategic leader, Vladimir Putin. This article deals with the phrenic approach of world leaders and how different psychological elements help shape the policy formation of a country. The Operational Code Scheme is of grave importance in determining the nature of the political universe and the image of the self. The former refers to the perception of the actors regarding the ongoing conflict and the rate of friendliness and animosity in the political ambiance, and the latter refers to the representation of oneself in the political arena.
This article draws attention on an individual level. It is done by comparing the systemic theories of IR with actor-specific theories, favouring the latter. The reason why the actor-specific theory is preferred is that it refers to the characteristics of an individual, and by being compliant with one’s individuality, one can easily understand the stance and why such measures have been put into action. It allows us to delve deeper into their policy formation, strategies, and mechanisms, making future predictions unconstrained.
Vladimir Putin has formulated exceptional foreign policies that best serve the interests of his country, Russia. The political culture of Russia is authoritative, transitioning to be more democratic. The power lies in the hands of Putin; hence, the ultimate and final decision is made by Putin. The tasks Putin does not see as of any importance are passed on to the other members. The strong position that Putin holds was attained by strengthening his roots within the country, and it was achieved by controlling the media, creating narratives in the interest of Russia, and stabilizing the economy by going against the financial industry interest groups.
The OC scheme is applicable when analysing the relations of Russia with Turkey, the USA, Germany, NATO, and Ukraine. The data presented in this article was gleaned from Putin’s interviews. According to the provided data, five out of nine times, Putin has deemed Turkey friendly and four times hostile. Similarly, twelve out of sixteen times Russia considered the USA hostile, twelve out of fifteen times Ukraine was considered hostile, and six out of six times NATO was deemed hostile and antagonistic by Russia. Germany and Russia were and are on good terms, with less animosity between the two countries. The data provided can be changed with the changing political environment of the world. In all these instances, Russia fancied itself on the friendly and genial side.
In conclusion, personality traits play a pivotal role in the political arena of modern times. The beliefs, values, and thought processes of a leader determine the fate of the country’s foreign policy. Putin, along with other exemplary leaders such as Margret Thatcher, Adolf Hitler, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill, and Mikhail Gorbachev, is worth mentioning.