RussiaRussia

Can you name the Can you name the Russian/Soviet leaders of the Russian/Soviet leaders of the

2020thth century? century?

*Information in this presentation adapted from “Comparative Government and Politics” by Ethel Wood.

Lenin, Stalin, KrushchevLenin, Stalin, Krushchev

Kruschev, Brezhnev, AndropovKruschev, Brezhnev, Andropov

Chernenko, Gorbachev, Yeltsin, Chernenko, Gorbachev, Yeltsin, PutinPutin

Introduction to RussiaIntroduction to Russia

The SuperpowersThe Superpowers

Politburo Politburo

NomenklaturaNomenklatura

Russian Federation Russian Federation

The Sources of Public Authority The Sources of Public Authority and political powerand political power

2020thth century public authority and century public authority and political power emanated from one political power emanated from one place: the place: the PolitburoPolitburo of the of the Communist Party. Communist Party.

Today’s new government structure Today’s new government structure has questionable legitimacyhas questionable legitimacy

LegitimacyLegitimacy Marxism-LeninismMarxism-Leninism provided the legitimacy base provided the legitimacy base

for the party, with its ideology of for the party, with its ideology of democratic democratic centralismcentralism, or rule by a few for the benefit of the , or rule by a few for the benefit of the many. many.

StalinismStalinism changed the regime to totalitarianism, changed the regime to totalitarianism, a more complete, invasive form of strong-man rule a more complete, invasive form of strong-man rule than the tsars ever were able to implement. than the tsars ever were able to implement.

The reformersThe reformers: Nikita Khrushchev and Mikhail : Nikita Khrushchev and Mikhail Gorbachev Gorbachev

Constitution of 1993Constitution of 1993

2000 presidential transition from Yeltsin to Putin2000 presidential transition from Yeltsin to Putin

Historical legaciesHistorical legacies

Several legacies from Russian history Several legacies from Russian history shape the modern political system: shape the modern political system:

• Absolute, centralized ruleAbsolute, centralized rule

• Extensive cultural heterogeneityExtensive cultural heterogeneity

• Slavophile v. westernizerSlavophile v. westernizer

• Revolutions of the 20th centuryRevolutions of the 20th century

Political CulturePolitical Culture

Russia's political culture has been shaped by its Russia's political culture has been shaped by its geographic setting, cultural orientation, and geographic setting, cultural orientation, and conflicting attitudes toward the state. conflicting attitudes toward the state.

• Geographical SettingGeographical Setting • Eastern OrthodoxyEastern Orthodoxy • Equality of resultEquality of result• Hostility toward the GovernmentHostility toward the Government • The importance of nationalityThe importance of nationality

Map of RussiaMap of Russia

Political ChangePolitical Change

History categorized by three distinct History categorized by three distinct periods:periods:• A long period of autocratic rule by tsarsA long period of autocratic rule by tsars• 2020thth century rule by the Communist century rule by the Communist

PartyParty• Abrupt regime change to democracy Abrupt regime change to democracy

and a free market in 1991and a free market in 1991

Tsarist RuleTsarist Rule

Western InfluenceWestern Influence

1919thth century tsars century tsars

Revolution of 1917 – Lenin and Revolution of 1917 – Lenin and StalinStalin

Lenin and the BolsheviksLenin and the Bolsheviks

StalinismStalinism

• Collectivism and IndustrializationCollectivism and Industrialization

• Stalin’s foreign policyStalin’s foreign policy

• The PurgesThe Purges

Reforms under Khruschev and Reforms under Khruschev and GorbachevGorbachev

De-StalinizationDe-Stalinization

““peaceful co-existence”peaceful co-existence”

BrezhnevBrezhnev

GorbachevGorbachev

GlasnostGlasnost This term translates from the Russian as This term translates from the Russian as

"openness," and it allowed more open "openness," and it allowed more open discussion of political, social and economic discussion of political, social and economic issues as well as open criticism of the issues as well as open criticism of the government. Although this reform was government. Although this reform was applauded by western nations, it caused applauded by western nations, it caused many problems for Gorbachev. After so many problems for Gorbachev. After so many years of repression, people vented many years of repression, people vented hostility toward the government that hostility toward the government that encouraged open revolt, particularly among encouraged open revolt, particularly among some of the republics that wanted some of the republics that wanted independence from Soviet control.independence from Soviet control.

DemocratizationDemocratization Gorbachev believed that he could keep the Gorbachev believed that he could keep the

old Soviet structure, including Communist old Soviet structure, including Communist Party control, but at the same time insert a Party control, but at the same time insert a little democracy into the system. little democracy into the system.

Two such moves included the creation of Two such moves included the creation of • 1) a new Congress of People's Deputies with 1) a new Congress of People's Deputies with

directly elected representatives and directly elected representatives and • 2) a new position of "President" that was selected 2) a new position of "President" that was selected

by the Congress. by the Congress.

The reforms did bring a bit of democracy. The reforms did bring a bit of democracy. However, many of the new deputies were However, many of the new deputies were critical of Gorbachev, increasing the level of critical of Gorbachev, increasing the level of discord within the government.discord within the government.

PerestroikaPerestroika This economic reform was Gorbachev's This economic reform was Gorbachev's

most radical, and also his least most radical, and also his least successful. Again, he tried to keep the successful. Again, he tried to keep the old Soviet structure, and modernize old Soviet structure, and modernize from within. from within. • Transferred many economic powers held Transferred many economic powers held

by the central government to private by the central government to private hands and the market economy. hands and the market economy.

• Specific reforms included authorization of Specific reforms included authorization of some privately owned companies, some privately owned companies, penalties for underperforming state penalties for underperforming state factories, leasing of farm land outside the factories, leasing of farm land outside the collective farms, price reforms, and collective farms, price reforms, and encouragement of joint ventures with encouragement of joint ventures with foreign companies.foreign companies.

Failed Coup and the Revolution of Failed Coup and the Revolution of 19911991

Popular protestsPopular protests

YeltsinYeltsin

Independence of RepublicsIndependence of Republics

Russian Federation 1991-presentRussian Federation 1991-present

Constitution of 1993Constitution of 1993

• DumaDuma• Constitutional CouncilConstitutional Council• PresidentPresident

• ““Shock Therapy”Shock Therapy”

Society and PoliticsSociety and Politics

ReligionReligion

Social ClassSocial Class

Rural v. UrbanRural v. Urban

Citizen and StateCitizen and State

Beliefs and attitudesBeliefs and attitudes

Mistrust of the governmentMistrust of the government

StatismStatism

Economic beliefsEconomic beliefs

westernizationwesternization

Political ParticipationPolitical Participation

Voting close to 100% during Soviet Voting close to 100% during Soviet RuleRule

Until Gorbachev elections were not Until Gorbachev elections were not competitivecompetitive

Duma Elections lower turnoutDuma Elections lower turnout

Political FrameworkPolitical Framework

Federal government structureFederal government structure

Eighty-nine regionsEighty-nine regions• ““republics”republics”• Centralized federationCentralized federation

PartiesParties

Parties often revolve around leadersParties often revolve around leaders Communist Party of the Russian Communist Party of the Russian

Federation (CPRF)Federation (CPRF) UnityUnity Yabloko Yabloko Union of Right ForcesUnion of Right Forces Fatherland – All RussiaFatherland – All Russia Liberal DemocratsLiberal Democrats

ElectionsElections

The Russian political system supports The Russian political system supports three types of national votes:three types of national votes:

• ReferendumReferendum

• Duma ElectionsDuma Elections

• Presidential electionsPresidential elections

Interest GroupsInterest Groups Interest groups were not formally allowed in the Soviet Interest groups were not formally allowed in the Soviet

Union. Union.

Market capitalism suddenly replaced centralized economic Market capitalism suddenly replaced centralized economic control in 1991.control in 1991.

Those that bought the state-owned industries were Those that bought the state-owned industries were generally insiders (members of the nomenclatura) who generally insiders (members of the nomenclatura) who have since become quite wealthy. have since become quite wealthy.

This collection of oligarchs may be defined loosely as an This collection of oligarchs may be defined loosely as an interest group because they have been a major influence interest group because they have been a major influence on the policy-making process during the formative years of on the policy-making process during the formative years of the Russian Federation.the Russian Federation.

The OligarchyThe Oligarchy

Boris BerezovskyBoris Berezovsky Putin has shown some resistance to Putin has shown some resistance to

oligarchic control. oligarchic control. GusinskyGusinsky Both Berezovsky and Gusinsky are Both Berezovsky and Gusinsky are

now in exile, but they still have close now in exile, but they still have close political and economic connections in political and economic connections in Russia.Russia.

The Russian MafiaThe Russian Mafia Interest group controls much more than Interest group controls much more than

underworld crime. underworld crime.

Like the oligarchs, they gained control during the Like the oligarchs, they gained control during the chaotic time after the Revolution of 1991, and chaotic time after the Revolution of 1991, and they control local businesses, natural resources, they control local businesses, natural resources, and banks.and banks.

In Russia's past, lawlessness has been dealt with In Russia's past, lawlessness has been dealt with

by repressive, authoritarian rule, and these by repressive, authoritarian rule, and these groups represent a major threat to the survival of groups represent a major threat to the survival of the new democracy.the new democracy.

Government InstitutionsGovernment Institutions

President and Prime MinisterPresident and Prime Minister

Bicameral LegislatureBicameral Legislature• DumaDuma• Federation CouncilFederation Council

The JudiciaryThe Judiciary

The MilitaryThe Military

Public Policy and Current IssuesPublic Policy and Current Issues

The EconomyThe Economy

Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs

Civil SocietyCivil Society

Terms to knowTerms to know BosheviksBosheviks ChechnyaChechnya CollectivizationCollectivization Democratic Democratic

centralismcentralism DumaDuma Federation CouncilFederation Council Five Year PlansFive Year Plans General secretaryGeneral secretary KulaksKulaks MarxismMarxism MensheviksMensheviks

NomenklaturaNomenklaturaOligarchyOligarchyPolitburoPolitburoPutinPutin““shock therapy”shock therapy”SlavophileSlavophileStalinismStalinismTotalitarianismTotalitarianismTsarsTsarsYablokoYablokoYeltisinYeltisin

*Information in the above presentation adapted from “Comparative Government and Politics” by

Ethel Wood.