JL;DR SUMMARY In "Weak Strongman: The Limits of Power in Putin's Russia," author Timothy M. Frye challenges the perception of Russia as uniquely autocratic under Vladimir Putin by arguing that the country's leadership is not entirely exceptional nor inherently predisposed to strongman rule. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.