The standard dictionary definition of Kremlinology is “the study of the policies and practices of the former Soviet government” (Merriam-Webster), rendering it synonymous with Sovietology. The Urban Dictionary offers a more relevant definition: “The art of observing, deducing, and guessing what is really happening within a secretive organization.”
OP-ED
Anders Aslund: Why we need Kremlinology again
Russia's President Vladimir Putin arrives for a meeting with leaders of Russian State Duma fractions at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 14, 2016.
The increasing opacity of Russian politics has opened a window of opportunity for Kremlinology to make a comeback. Many people ridicule the field of study as little more than reading tea leaves, but it can be a helpful analytical tool when done properly.
