Richard Sakwa told RIA that this is an academic attempt to investigate into the leadership phenomenon, designed for the broad public.
His last week's visit to Russia has left him under the impression that the book has stirred up keen interest here, including in the mass media.
Sakwa admitted that while writing the book he had used a wide range of Russian-language and English sources, including speeches by the Russian president, his interviews, official documents and other publications, meetings with politicians and public figures, except the president personally.
This 300-page insight into Vladimir Putin's tenure in the context of the general political situation in Russia reveals, in the opinion of the author, the strengths and weaknesses of the Russian political leader. Sakwa writes amid other things that Putin has rejected revolution as a method and set out in pursuit of a state ruled by law, stable institutions and predictable patterns.
The author singles out two main features of the president's domestic policy: structural consolidation of federalism and the distancing of oligarchs from the corridors of power.
Since the oligarchs had ceased parading their power and their incomes, they were allowed to do business as long as they stayed within the limits of business without tranforming it into politics, noted Richard Sakwa.
In the opinion of the British author, Putin's presidency is an attempt to establish a set of rules sustaining the country's steady revival both on the domestic scene and in the world arena.
Richard Sakwa brings forth Russia's woes too, saying that Putin has succeeded in stopping the country's disintegration but failed yet to build a state powerful enough to combat organised crime and corruption.
Other notorious events in Russia's recent history are also cited throughout the narration, such as for instance, clamorous scandals, which accompany the shift of the owners of leading Russian TV channels.
The British professor stresses the necessity of bringing the reforms initiated by Putin to the end.
Government reshuffles in Russia should not mean the installation of a new regime, argues Richard Sakwa. It is only when Putin's voice becomes part and parcel of a large chorus of people that one can speak about Russia's stepping on a democratic path.
Richard Sakwa is considered to be one of the best British experts in Soviet and Russian politics.
