Sportokratura under Vladimir Putin: A geopolitics of Russian sport

Why, after the announcement of the Russo-Ukrainian war, were the first sanctions issued by the sports authorities? Why was Russia banned from international sports competitions for 2 years before the war? How did sport become an essential soft power instrument for the Russian authorities between 2000 and 2020? Who governs sport in Russia? Why does Vladimir Putin regularly put himself on stage playing ice hockey or practicing judo? This book aims to answer these questions using the original concept of "sportokratura": a neologism coined by the author that designates the unique Russian political-economic-sports system built over the past 20 years by V. Putin. A true exploration of the mechanics of the current Russian system, this essay reveals the links that exist in Russia between sport, politics and the economy. A unique look at the geopolitics of Russian sport under Vladimir Putin inside and outside the country.