Yes, but with a modern twist the Russian people enjoy....once the youth are statisfied with the “modern” then they’ll revolt....unlesss he plays his cards right...and so far his focus has been accomplishing the support of the youth and they remain in his court for the most part.
Putin’s doing no more than Nato’s push for it’s “Empire”....and the Muslim nation’s for there’s....as well the “asian groups” forming and gaining clout.
The difference is which one gets the focus to weaken it by the others... as it grows. Putin had too much clout with Europe and rapidly achieving his agenda to do so....the US was lossing it’s clout with Europe.....Nato (the US) said no....thus the race goes on....
Most people in this country seem to have forgotten that the goal of the EU is to be independent from and a "counter weight" to the US economically and eventually militarily as well. The neocons aren't stoking a new Cold War fever for the sake of putting Russia in a box, they're doing so in hopes of retaining as much control over Europe as they had during the first Cold War.
If it weren't for their own inability to recognize Iz Lame for what it really is they might have had a chance at succeeding, too.