Russia鈥檚 intervention in Syria caught the world by surprise. Moscow gave Washington just one hour鈥檚 notice before it began its aerial bombardment. Russia claims its jets are attacking the so-called Islamic State. But reports suggest the Russian pilots are in fact targeting groups linked to the Free Syrian Army - the main opposition to Syria鈥檚 President Assad, who is a Russian ally. It is the first time President Putin has deployed force beyond the borders of the former USSR and another dramatic step in his increasingly assertive foreign policy. But Josh Earnest, President Obama鈥檚 press secretary, has described Russia鈥檚 action as motivated by 鈥渨eakness鈥�. Is he right?
华体会鈥檚 Hannah Thoburn explains how a new politics is emerging. Russians are being asked to accept financial sacrifices in order to help return the country to its place as a global super power, and that so far it's working.