@hightor,
Interesting article, but the ideas presented potentially apply to nearly everyone in a position of power or authority, not just totalitarian dictators. History is full of the failures often well - intentioned leaders of a wide variety of organizations (including those of relatively democratic governments) who become trapped in a world of, once realistic, assumptions that no longer apply; or otherwise become unquestioning consumers of their own propaganda. The essential point noted in the article, regarding the continuing necessity for internal dialogue, dissent and consideration of other perspectives remains applicable to all.
Putin has so far been a very successful and canny leader who has, made significant progress in achieving his stated goals of reassembling the former Russian/Soviet Empire. He has successfully conned the governments of several European Nations into the belief that they can cooperatively draw Putin's Russia into eventual alignment with Western Liberal values. Unfortunately for him, that appears to be over now, and the accumulating evidence suggests that the internal rot that infected the authoritarian Soviet system may remain alive in his Russia, and likely precisely because he has retained the same authoritarian form of "leadership".
All that said, Putin remains dangerous, and the suffering & destruction he is inflicting on Ukraine continues. His so far unanswered threats of Nuclear war (or something like it) , repeated just yesterday by his Acolyte, Dimitry Medvedev, should remind us of the serious risks attendant to the lack of adequate deterrence.
The widespread revulsion with his actions is encouraging, and the unexpected strength & endurance of the Ukrainian resistance, quite inspiring, but they alone aren't likely enough to bring Putin down That should certainly be our goal in dealing with the issues at hand.
