Best Of: What Drives Putin and Xi

Dan Kurtz-Phelan hosts Stephen Kotkin and Orville Schell to discuss the driving forces, worldviews, and ambitions of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, comparing them to historical figures like Mao and Stalin. The conversation explores Western misinterpretations of both leaders early in their careers, the impact of historical events like the Soviet collapse and the Cultural Revolution on their thinking, and their shared sense of victimhood and desire to restore national greatness. The discussion further examines the strategic implications of China and Russia's relationship, the potential for China to play a role in the war in Ukraine, and the long-term prospects for both countries after Xi and Putin's departures.