After almost a decade in prison, Yevgeny Prigozhin was released into a new world. Gorbachev gave his last speech as leader of the Soviet Union; the Communist Party was outlawed. Soon, gangs were violently extorting new business owners and the murder rate doubled. But Prigozhin was comfortable with chaos. He started a hot dog stand and climbed his way up into the highest echelons of power… then decided to diversify.
In this episode, we look at a Russian businessman who takes on a new game, war in the shadows, and how we prepare for what we can’t see.
GUESTS: Anastasia Gorshkova, Russian Journalist; Sean McFate, Georgetown, Author, Former Mercenary
ADDITIONAL READING:
Putin’s Kleptocracy, Karen Dawisha.
The Future is History, Masha Gessen.
The New Rules of War, Sean McFate.