What happened to the End of History? Has it ended?
Then there are the risk-takers, the gamblers, the ones who push the envelope.
If they succeed -- if their gambles pay off -- then they're considered not only rational, but brilliant.
If they fail they're regarded as crazy and dangerous.
I'd put Putin in that category.
You could see that behavior a century ago -- countries essentially playing chicken with each other and expecting the other side to get out of the way.
It's not good for the world, but if the other fellow chickens out, the reward for you can be great.
Merkel is someone who stays within the established limits and doesn't risk or gamble -- all the better for her, for her country, and for the world -- so it's not surprising that she sees Putin as irrational or out of touch with reality.
bkmk