Vladimir Putin Has Fallen into the Dictator Trap

I am not sure this myth the author is claiming is anywhere near as pervasive as they seem to think? I kind of know what they mean, but I don't think it's something most or even all that many people I've met would agree with.

"In my research, I’ve persistently encountered a stubborn myth—of the savvy strongman, the rational, calculating despot who can play the long game because he (and it’s typically a he) doesn’t have to worry about pesky polls or angry voters. Our elected leaders, this view suggests, are no match for the tyrant who gazes into the next decade rather than fretting about next year’s election."