Putin’s Demographic Crisis: Authoritarian Control Cannot Replace National Renewal

For over two decades, Vladimir Putin has confronted the grim reality of Russia’s shrinking and aging population—a crisis that no amount of ideological posturing or draconian laws can truly fix. Despite his repeated calls to revive “traditional family values” and efforts to coerce higher birthrates through restrictive policies, Moscow faces a demographic disaster that undercuts its geopolitical ambitions and weakens its national security. Can State Control Replace Economic Confidence? Putin’s initiatives—ranging from Soviet-style “hero-mother” medals for women with multiple children to bans on abortion promotion and LGBTQ+ activism—reflect a desperate grasp at social engineering rather than addressing root causes. In...