Linkage Institutions: Putin and the Media1991-2000

Oligarchs controlled major TV stations.

Critical of Putin’s policies (i.e.,

Chechnya)

Putin’s ResponseGusinsky: arrested

for corruptionNTV: now owned by

GazpromState-owned natural

gasBerezovsky: fled the

countryTV-6 was closed by

the government

Kremlin controls all major mediaElection Coverage:

Overwhelmingly Pro-Putin/United Russia

Trash oppositionNo chance to respond to charges on air.

Campaign Laws Hurt OppositionLow levels of campaign spending allowed

Can’t explicitly campaign until 1 month before election

Kasparov: 60 Minutes1. Describe the obstacles for political

opposition.

2. Describe the reasons Putin was so popular in 2007.

3. How important is a liberal democracy to Russians?

4. What other issues are more important for them?

Special Interest GroupsSTATE CORPORATISM

State determines which groups have input in policy making.

Either the State controls major industries.

ORINSIDER PRIVATIZATION

Companies run by men loyal to government (oligarchs loyal to Putin)

State Owned Co.

Chairman

Gazprom (natural gas)

Zubkov (former prime minister)

VTB (inter-national investment)

Kostin (friend of Putin)

Rosneft (oil) Sechin (Pres. Chief of Staff)

Russian Tech (weapons trader)

Chemezov (former KGB colleague)

United Aircraft Ivanov (first deputy prime minister)

Russian OligarchsTycoons that bought

state-owned industries at a cheap price when USSR collapsed.

Many oligarchs came from nomenklatura.

Close ties to Yeltsin in 1990s.

Putin and the OligarchsWarned them to stay

out of politics.Political challengers

were:JailedFled country

Pro-Putin OligarchsInsider Privatization

Mikhail KhodorkovskyRichest man in

RussiaCEO of Yukos Oil Co.Funded opposition

parties2003: 8-year

sentence for fraud and tax evasion

2011: 5 more years for stealing and laundering

Corruption in Russia“The regime Putin built was based

on loyalty to him above the rule of law.”

• Mikhail Trepashkin

Ranks 154th out of 178 countries on Transparency International Report, 2010.

“Anti-Corruption Efforts I Russia Fall Short

1. Why do Russian authorities frame innocent people?

2. How much do Russians pay in bribes a year?3. How do police officers advance in the

department?4. Why was Trespashkin fired from the FSB?

Russia’s Political CultureBasic values and assumptions that people have

toward authority, the political system, and political life.

Mistrust of GovernmentLow legitimacy and political efficacy

StatismGovernment plays an active, strong role in shaping

society (political, economic, social, and military).Equality of Result

Persists after communismLow approval of oligarchs

Civil SocietyOrganizations outside of the state that allow for

political or civil participation.

Restriction of group activities (especially if group is critical of government).

Tough registration laws.Harassment from police and local officials.2006 NGO Law

On Dec. 4-5, thousands protest the results of 2011 Duma election in unapproved rallies against the “party of swindlers and thieves.”

Arrest of liberal Politician, Boris Nemtsov. Over 500 were also arrested.

25,000-50,000 Protest again on December 10.

Pro-Putin youth hold rallies that were televised.Photos courtesy of “BBC News.”

Nashi Youth GroupLoyal, patriotic Putin supportersVarious activities

Marches, demonstrations, summer campsReceive government grantsDonations from state-run businesses