The Faces of Putin: An Application of Q and the Single Case

This article discusses the potential Q Methodology – particularly the use of a study based on a single case – could play in assisting foreign policy analysts and specialists in one of their most challenging tasks: anticipating future actions of other state or nonstate actors. The task is inherently difficult as those future actions usually are dependent on policy decisions by key leaders – decisions that may not been finalized or are subject to change. In nearly all cases, analysts must make assessments of foreign leaders in the face of information that is scarce, conflicting, and ambiguous. The study uses a 36-item Q sample drawn from Margaret Hermann’s trait analysis approach to assessing leadership style. This study of Russian leader Vladimir Putin explores the insights Q can provide via a single-case study. Only publicly available information was used for this study. The study explores the extent to which, in the subjective view of the participant, Putin’s leadership style has changed since he first assumed the Russian presidency in May 2000. The study examines Putin’s leadership style at three potentially significant inflection points: upon becoming president, the 2014-2015 Russian military interventions in Crimea/eastern Ukraine and Syria, and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Sortings for each of these periods were done under three distinct Conditions of Instruction that explored how Putin sought to project his leadership image (or “face”) to three key audiences.