Evolution of the Evolution of the Russian StateRussian State

Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin

Leader of Bolshevik Revolution (1917)Leader of Bolshevik Revolution (1917) Marxism-LeninismMarxism-Leninism

– Argued that a party of professional Argued that a party of professional revolutionaries was needed to lead the revolutionaries was needed to lead the proletariat (working class) in overthrowing proletariat (working class) in overthrowing the bourgeoisie (upper class)the bourgeoisie (upper class)

– He termed this the “revolutionary He termed this the “revolutionary vanguard”vanguard”

StalinismStalinism Stalin placed Communist Party Stalin placed Communist Party

(CPSU) at center of control(CPSU) at center of control Leaders identified through Leaders identified through nomenklatura nomenklatura Central Committee: Central Committee: 300 party/govt. leaders300 party/govt. leaders Politburo: Politburo: group of 12 men from the Central group of 12 men from the Central

Committee who ran the countryCommittee who ran the country– All government agencies under their controlAll government agencies under their control

General Secretary:General Secretary: head of the Politburo, head of the Politburo, “dictator” of the country “dictator” of the country – Stalin was General Secretary from 1927–1953Stalin was General Secretary from 1927–1953

Sovereignty, Authority, and Sovereignty, Authority, and Power in USSRPower in USSR

Authority in Soviet Union came from Authority in Soviet Union came from the Politburo of the Communist Party the Politburo of the Communist Party (CPSU)(CPSU)– Politburo Politburo – center of policy-making power – center of policy-making power

in USSRin USSR NomenklaturaNomenklatura – Soviet system of lists – Soviet system of lists

that facilitated the CPSU’s appointment that facilitated the CPSU’s appointment of trusted people to key positions of trusted people to key positions – ex.) Politburo membersex.) Politburo members

Stalinism IIStalinism II Collectivization & Collectivization &

IndustrializationIndustrialization– ““Collective farms”Collective farms”– Private land ownership abolishedPrivate land ownership abolished

Five-Year PlansFive-Year Plans: ambitious goals : ambitious goals for production of heavy industry, for production of heavy industry, such as oil, steel, and electricitysuch as oil, steel, and electricity– Quotas + plans directed production + Quotas + plans directed production +

distributiondistribution

Mikhail GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev Took over as General Secretary in Took over as General Secretary in

the mid-1980’sthe mid-1980’s Educated and more “westernized” Educated and more “westernized”

than previous Soviet leadersthan previous Soviet leaders Initiated a wave of reforms:Initiated a wave of reforms:

– GlasnostGlasnost– PerestroikaPerestroika– DemokratizatsiiaDemokratizatsiia

Glasnost – “Openness”Glasnost – “Openness” Open discussion of political, social, and Open discussion of political, social, and

economic issueseconomic issues Allowed for open criticism of government Allowed for open criticism of government

and government policiesand government policies– 11stst time this allowed in USSR time this allowed in USSR

Gorbachev stressed improving the Gorbachev stressed improving the economic well-being of the country and it’s economic well-being of the country and it’s people:people:– Open market relationsOpen market relations– Pragmatic economic policyPragmatic economic policy– Less secretive governmentLess secretive government

Perestroika – Perestroika – “Restructuring”“Restructuring”

Economic RestructuringEconomic Restructuring– Transferred economic power from central Transferred economic power from central

government to private hands and market government to private hands and market economyeconomy

– Authorized privately owned companiesAuthorized privately owned companies– Reforms of price controlsReforms of price controls– Foreign investmentForeign investment

Allowed group formation in civil Allowed group formation in civil society (voluntary associations, etc.)society (voluntary associations, etc.)

DemokratizatsiiaDemokratizatsiia Gorbachev wanted to insert some Gorbachev wanted to insert some

democratic characteristics into the old democratic characteristics into the old Soviet structureSoviet structure

However, he However, he DID DID want to maintain want to maintain Communist Party controlCommunist Party control

Reforms included:Reforms included:1.1. A new Congress of People’s Deputies with A new Congress of People’s Deputies with

directly elected representativesdirectly elected representatives2.2. New position of “President” that was selected New position of “President” that was selected

by the Congressby the Congress

Buildup to the BreakupBuildup to the Breakup Ethnic and national demands for self-Ethnic and national demands for self-

determination contributed significantly determination contributed significantly to the instability of the Soviet Union in to the instability of the Soviet Union in the late 1980’sthe late 1980’s

Republics began calling for Republics began calling for independenceindependence

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7972232.stm

Effect of Gorbachev’s Effect of Gorbachev’s ReformsReforms

The Soviet government’s legitimacy The Soviet government’s legitimacy diminished as inefficiency and diminished as inefficiency and corruption were publicly acknowledgedcorruption were publicly acknowledged

Increased autonomy of the republicsIncreased autonomy of the republics Enhanced the role of the PresidentEnhanced the role of the President Reduced power of the CPSUReduced power of the CPSU Strengthened powers of the legislatureStrengthened powers of the legislature

Revolution of 1991Revolution of 1991 Coup d'état led by “Conservatives” Coup d'état led by “Conservatives”

(those opposed to Gorbachev’s reforms)(those opposed to Gorbachev’s reforms)– Vice-presidentVice-president– Head of the KGBHead of the KGB– Top military advisersTop military advisers

Coup failed when popular protests Coup failed when popular protests erupted and soldiers defected rather erupted and soldiers defected rather than kill protestersthan kill protesters– Protesters led by Boris Yeltsin, Protesters led by Boris Yeltsin,

president of the Russian Republicpresident of the Russian Republic

DissolutionDissolution Gorbachev restored to power, but by Gorbachev restored to power, but by

December 1991 eleven Soviet December 1991 eleven Soviet republics had declared their republics had declared their independenceindependence

Soon, Gorbachev officially announced Soon, Gorbachev officially announced dissolution of Soviet Union and his dissolution of Soviet Union and his resignationresignation

Boris YeltsinBoris Yeltsin Former member of Politburo, removed Former member of Politburo, removed

because his radical views offended because his radical views offended conservativesconservatives– Even more extreme than GorbachevEven more extreme than Gorbachev

Emerged as president of Russian Emerged as president of Russian Federation after Soviet Union dissolvedFederation after Soviet Union dissolved

Attempted to create a “western-style” Attempted to create a “western-style” democracydemocracy

Weakened power of CPRFWeakened power of CPRF

1993 Constitution1993 Constitution President granted significant power President granted significant power

over other institutionsover other institutions– Ex.) Allows the President to disband the Ex.) Allows the President to disband the

ParliamentParliament

““Shock Therapy” economic Shock Therapy” economic reforms (early 1990s)reforms (early 1990s)

Attempt to Attempt to immediately immediately transition to transition to market economy (privatization)market economy (privatization)– Eliminated price controls, sold off all Eliminated price controls, sold off all

state-owned enterprisesstate-owned enterprises– Created “oligarchs” – wealthy Created “oligarchs” – wealthy

individuals who profited greatly by individuals who profited greatly by buying up SOEsbuying up SOEs

Effects of “Shock Therapy”Effects of “Shock Therapy” Reforms failedReforms failed

– 1990–1995: 50% decline of GDP and 1990–1995: 50% decline of GDP and industrial output industrial output

– Drop in birth rate, increase in death rateDrop in birth rate, increase in death rate– Increase in unemployment + poverty Increase in unemployment + poverty

ratesrates Conflict between Yeltsin and the DumaConflict between Yeltsin and the Duma Chechen independence movement Chechen independence movement

further destabilized Russiafurther destabilized Russia

Yeltsin IIYeltsin II Poor presidentPoor president Alcoholic & frequently ill; this led to Alcoholic & frequently ill; this led to

erratic political behaviorerratic political behavior Resigned before the 2000 electionsResigned before the 2000 elections Vladimir Putin, Yeltsin’s prime Vladimir Putin, Yeltsin’s prime

minister, took over and won the 2000 minister, took over and won the 2000 & 2004 elections& 2004 elections

Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin

Putin FishingPutin Fishing

Putin with DogPutin with Dog

ChechnyaChechnya Desires independenceDesires independence 94% are Sunni Muslims94% are Sunni Muslims Seen by many Russians as responsible for recent terrorist attacksSeen by many Russians as responsible for recent terrorist attacks

Putin in PowerPutin in Power 1999 – Used force to put down 1999 – Used force to put down

Chechen rebellionChechen rebellion Extensive media freedom under Extensive media freedom under

Yeltsin has been significantly Yeltsin has been significantly curtailed under Putincurtailed under Putin– Many journalists have been beaten, Many journalists have been beaten,

others killedothers killed

Changes to the Structure of Changes to the Structure of Politics/GovernmentPolitics/Government

Governors used to be popularly electedGovernors used to be popularly elected– Now essentially chosen by presidentNow essentially chosen by president

Changed the electoral systemChanged the electoral system– Duma elections used to be half proportional, Duma elections used to be half proportional,

half single-member-district winner-take-allhalf single-member-district winner-take-all Now entirely proportionalNow entirely proportional Threshold for eligibility to win seats was Threshold for eligibility to win seats was

raised from 5% to 7%raised from 5% to 7%– Meant to prevent reformers from winning seatsMeant to prevent reformers from winning seats

Half of Federation Council appointed by presidentHalf of Federation Council appointed by president

Putin vs. the OligarchsPutin vs. the Oligarchs OligarchsOligarchs – business and political leaders with – business and political leaders with

immense wealth and influenceimmense wealth and influence Vladimir Putin has attempted to contain the Vladimir Putin has attempted to contain the

oligarch’s influenceoligarch’s influence– Centralization of power in PresidentCentralization of power in President– Movement towards authoritarian ruleMovement towards authoritarian rule– Unpredictability of Russia (No experience with Unpredictability of Russia (No experience with

democracy and free market economy)democracy and free market economy)– Slavic roots provide strong tendency to autocratic Slavic roots provide strong tendency to autocratic

rulerule Mikhail Khodorkovsky Mikhail Khodorkovsky