Narratives certainly do not have a monopoly on power and the ideas presented here complement much of what has already been written about this topic. That said, the ability to craft, manipulate and communicate a narrative at the local, regional, national or international level provides a highly effective form of power. Leaders who can wield all three aspects of narrative: aggregation, understanding and access possess a great tool for influencing groups. Narrative is present in almost every other theory of power discussed in this project, and understanding its use is vital in understanding the nature of power.
President Putin made three foundational assumptions in launching his war against Ukraine that should have been correct but were not. First, Putin assumed the invasion of Ukraine would be a quick and easy fight. Second, he assumed the world would denounce the invasion but tacitly allow it. Third, Putin assumed the war would deter NATO expansion.
