comparative political systems russia mrs. vanwart
TRANSCRIPT
Comparative Political SystemsComparative Political Systems
RussiaRussia
Mrs. VanWartMrs. VanWart
RussiaRussia
Official name: The Russian Federation (1991)
Capital: Moscow
Population: Approx. 145M
RussiaRussia
http://historysshadow.wordpress.com/tag/stalin/
RussiaRussia
early political history
•Ivan the Terrible 1547 first tsar
•Romanov dynasty (1613-1917) --Michael I thru Nicholas II
•Peter the Great 1721 --began modernization•Catherine the Great (1762-96) -- “golden age”
RussiaRussia
Bolshevik Revolution (1917)
•March 1917: --Nicholas II abdicates (later assassinated) --Alexander Kerensky (prov. govt)
•Nov 1917: --Vladimir Lenin & Communists come to power --Soviet Union (USSR) established (1922-1991)
RussiaRussia
Vladimir Lenin
Bolshevik leader
1st Premier of Soviet Union
Influenced by Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels
Power grab after his death (1924)
RussiaRussia
Karl Marx
“The history of all … society is the history of class struggle”
Advocated overthrow of capitalism (socialism, then pure communism)
RussiaRussia
Joseph Stalin (“man of steel”)
•Took power after Lenin’s death (1924)
•Eliminated opposition through purges
•Modernized USSR; military superpower -- forced collectivization of farms -- rapid industrialization
RussiaRussia
RussiaRussia
USSR – Post WWII
•Controlled much of Eastern Europe -- installed Communist govts -- promise of democratic govts not fulfilled -- “iron curtain” divided east & west Europe
•Cold War – tensions with US; no direct fighting (1947-1991) --US policy of “containment”
“iron curtain” separating Europe (Churchill)
Identical zones in Berlin
RussiaRussia
Soviet Government Structure
•15 republics (by nationality mostly) -- Russia largest (70% land; 50% people)
-- soviets (councils)
-- “the Kremlin” (Soviet seat of power) “kremlin” = castle, fortress
RussiaRussia
Soviet Government Structure
•Soviet Constitution
-- basic freedoms not guaranteed -- the state’s interests superseded all
RussiaRussia
Soviet Government Structure
•Legislature
-- Supreme Soviet -- basically “rubber-stamped” Communist decrees
RussiaRussia
Soviet Government Structure
•Communist Party (“CPSU”)
-- one-party rule (1917-1990) -- Politburo elected by Central Committee -- headed by General Secretary
RussiaRussia
Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985)
•perestroika: “restructuring”(political & economic) •glasnost = “openness” (tolerance of dissent & freedom of expression)
RussiaRussia
Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985)
•Legislature:-elections: competitive, multi-party
•Presidency:-new position created (head of state vs. head of party)
•CPSU:-lost power by 1990
RussiaRussia
Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985)
•Reforms (inadvertently) swept Communist govts from power in E. Europe
--Poland 1988 (Solidarity movement)
--Hungary, E.Germany, Czech., Romania, Bulgaria followed
-- “Fall” of Berlin Wall (Nov. 1989)
“death strip”
EAST
WEST
RussiaRussia
Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985)
•coup attempt (Aug. 1991)
-hardliners put MG under house arrest in Crimea; declare themselves in charge
-Boris Yeltsin (Pres of Russia) led opposition to coup --support of public, military --MG restored to power
RussiaRussia
Boris Yeltsin stands atop tank in Red Square
RussiaRussia
Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985)
•Soviet republics declared independence -- signaled collapse of Soviet Union
•Gorbachev resigned Dec. 25, 1991
•Yeltsin became 1st President of Russian Federation
Mikhail Gorbachev instituted reforms such as perestroika and glasnost because he believed:
a) the USSR should “fall” for its own good, then re-emerge stronger than ever;
b) the USSR needed to change its ways in order to survive socially, politically, and economically;
c) maintaining control over the Eastern Bloc countries was burdensome to the USSR and this was a way to encourage them to declare independence
RussiaRussia
Russian Government Today
•Constitution of 1993 --includes free housing (low income), medical care, higher education (competitive basis)
•38-3. Able-bodied children over 18 years of age shall take care of disabled parents.
RussiaRussia
Russian Government Today
Executive Branch
•Chief of State: President Vladimir Putin (May 2012) (6-year term; no VP) --Putin’s 3rd term (non-consecutive)
•Head of Govt: Prime Minister Dmitriy Medvedev (appointed by President; confirmed by Duma)
President Putin Prime Minister Medvedev
(previously their positions were switched for 6 years)
RussiaRussia
Russian Government Today
Legislature (“Federal Assembly”)
•Council of the Federation (upper house)--178 members (2 x 89 regions)
•State Duma (lower house)--450 members (aka “deputies”) --more powerful --may be dissolved (a la Br. House of Commons)
RussiaRussia
Russian Government Today
Judiciary (“Constitutional Court”)
•19 judges-- elected to 12-year terms