Russia Chapter 8 and 9

Russia Post-Communist state, Illiberal Democracy, Russian Political History

Russia in the world

Russian Map

Russian Flags Current Russian flag – present Communist Russian flag – Russia empire flag

Stages of History 1.Rule by Tsars (Russian Monarchs) Communism – Democracy and Free Market – 1991-?

Tsarist Rule 1533 – Ivan the Terrible – unites Russia Tsar also heads Russian Orthodox Church Peter the Great – ruled –Advanced Russian technology, culture –Increased Russian power, influence Absolute Tsarist rule was hated by intelligentsia

Russian Revolution Marxism – workers would unite to run world –Proletariat vs. Bourgeoisie –Encourages cooperation and equality –No private property –No class –Command economy Marxist Parable –Little Boy: What will Marxism be like when perfected? –His Father: Everyone will have what he needs. –Little Boy: But what if there is a shortage of meat? –His Father: There will be a sign in the butcher shop saying, "No one needs meat today."

Russian Revolution Mensheviks – group in favor of revolution, Russia must wait for Britain, France, Ger. Bolsheviks – group in favor of revolution now –Led by Vladimir Lenin –Democratic Centralism – rule by a few for the benefit of the many (Vanguard of the Proletariat)

1917 March Revolution –Pure revolution – mass protest –Soldiers wouldn’t support Tsar –Tsar abdicated and later killed Provisional Government –Duma – Democratic elected constituent assembly –Alexander Kerensky – Prime Minister, weak –Unpopular as Russia was still involved in WWI November Revolution –Bolshevik coup –Lenin seizes power of the government

Lenin New Economic Policy – central leadership runs gov (Communist Party), private ownership allowed Power struggle after death

Stalin Communist Party takes absolute control Stalin acts as absolute dictator Leon Trotsky – works with Stalin in attempt to spread Communism globally Collectivization – state owned farms, mass starvation, millions die 5 year plan – massive industrialization The Purges – executed millions of Russians

Cold War was marked by competition between superpowers across the world Sudden and surprising collapse in 1991 left the Russian Federation the largest piece Population cut in half/Land area still largest in world

Nikita Khrushchev DeStalinization – process that led to reforms, loosen gov censorship

DeStalinization Led by Khrushchev who was critical of Stalin Tried to lead a policy of peaceful coexistence with the West Replaced by Leonid Brezhnev who was much more conservative and had to deal with serious economic problems

Mikhail Gorbachev Glasnost – social and political openness Perestroika – economic restructuring Democratization – some elected officials including a President 1989

Mikhail Gorbachev Looked and acted much more Western than previous Soviet Leaders Came to power in 1982 Instituted reforms out need to save USSR

Glasnost Openness Took the political stage with the disaster at Chernobyl in 1986 Heavy handed control of the media was lifted Media began criticizing the govt. and its leaders People began to vent 70 yrs. Of Frustrations and was counterproductive

Perestroika A total restructuring of the economy Involved relinquishing state control of the economy 5 reforms instituted; Never fully instituted –1. Intro market mechanisms –2. Authorizing small privately owned business –3. Allow farmers to lease if not own land –4. Price reform: pay market price for goods –5. Easing restrictions on joint ventures with foreign firms

Democratization Gorbachev believed he could keep the old Soviet system and add some democracy –1. Led to creation of a new Congress of People’s Deputies with directly elected representatives –2. New Position of President selected by the Congress

Man of the Year 1988 Time Man of the Year Very Popular in the U.S. Gorbachev starred in a Pizza Hut commercial In 2004, Gorbachev moved to trademark his famous birthmark, after a vodka company featured the mark on labels to capitalize on its fame. The company now no longer uses the trademark.

Boris Yeltsin Constitution of 1993 – three-branch gov Economic Shock Therapy – switch to an immediate market economy Corruption – plagued Russian gov and business

Boris Yeltsin Yeltsin elected President over Gorby Yeltsin proceeded with western style democracy He was a poor President was ill and an alcoholic Resigned in 2000

1993 Constitution Created a 3 branch govt. President Prime Minister, a lower legislative house called a DUMA, and an upper house called Federation Council Constitutional Court

Vladimir Putin New Regime – Russia as an illiberal democracy Make Russia a global power again

Vladmir Putin Born 1952 Humble beginnings, Law Degree KGB Agent in East Germany Held various Communist party positions PM under Yeltsin, when he resigned became President and ran on his own and won

Putin Shut down TV Stations Jailed Rival Politicians Alleged killing of opponents Alleged unfair elections

2008 Election Putin has stated that it is unacceptable for him to stay in power Putin will become Prime Minister and vows to be the most powerful Dmitry Medvedev became President.

Sovereignty, Authority, Power When Soviet Union dissolved: authority and power vanished, questionable legitimacy

Legitimacy Legitimacy somewhat questionable Historically based on autocratic rule –First by the TSARS –Second by the Communist Rule: Marxist- Leninist rule of the few for good of the many –Stalinism: Totalitarianism strong man rule

Constitution of 1993 Constitution of 1993 attempt to reconstruct Legitmacy Provided for strong President Presidential power checked by popular election and lower house of Duma: Legislature

Political Culture Has been shaped by geographic setting, cultural orientation and conflicting attitudes Geographic Setting: Largest Country in World/different ethnicities and climates/Borders touch many nations/Many natural resources/Cold Eastern Orthodoxy: Adopted as religion by most Russians early. Linked to the state so no separation of church and state

Political Culture Equality of Result: Communists instilled appreciation of equality This equality of result : Western idea of equality of opportunity getting ahead by hard work Hostility toward Govt.: Years of repression have sparked resentment and modern Russians often badmouth their leaders

Importance of Nationality Cultural Heterogeneity: a lot of different ethnicities People tend to categorize others based on nationality, and discriminate against groups

Political Economic Change Long period of autocratic rule by tsars Tsars ruled Russia from the 14th to the early 20th century. Control of Russia was passed down through the Romanov family from the 17th century on, transitions were often brutal.

Democracy An abrupt regime change to democracy and a free market in President Boris Yeltsin put western-style reforms in place to create the Russian Federation. Shock Therapy: An immediate market economy

Revolution and Coup Revolution in 1991 Conservatives tried to remove Gorbachev Failed due to protestors and soldiers who defected rather than support the conservatives Protestors were led by Boris Yeltsin Gorbachev restored to power in Dec republics declared independence and Gorby was out of a job

Citizens Society and the State A lot of contradictory influences Most Russians support idea of democratic govt., do not believe one exists today Like idea of strong state and powerful political leaders

Nationality Most important single cleavage is Nationality 80% are Russians Sizable number of Tatars, Ukrainians, Chuvashes These cleavages determine the organization of the country into a federation with autonomous regions

Chechnya Many of these republics would like full independence most have trade benefits Chechnya: Muslim region that has fought for years for independence

Religion Tsarist Russia was overwhelmingly Russian Orthodox, with the tsar serving as spiritual head of the church. USSR prohibited religious practices of all kinds, most lost their religious affiliations Yeltsin encouraged the Russian Orthodox Church to reestablish itself Today most are nonreligious only about 16% claiming affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church. Other religious are represented by tiny percentages; Roman Catholic, Jews, Muslim and Protestant. Since the current regime is so new and political parties so uncertain, no clear pattern has emerged that indicate political attitudes of religious v. nonreligious citizens.

Social Class/Communists The Soviet attempts to destroy social class differences in Russia were partially successful. The noble/peasant distinction of Tsarist Russia was abolished Replaced by another cleavage: members of the Communist Party and nonmembers: 7% of the citizenry were party members. Economic favors were granted to party members particularly those of the Central Committee and the Politburo. However, egalitarian views were promoted, & the nomenklatura process of recruiting leaders from lower levels of the party was generally blind to economic and social background. Today Russian citizens appear to be more egalitarian in their political and social views than people of the established democracies.

Modern Social Class Many observers of modern Russia note that a new socio-economic class may be developing within the context of the budding market economy: entrepreneurs that have recently amassed fortunes from new business opportunities. However, the fortunes of many of these newly rich Russians were wiped away by the 1997 business bust, so it is difficult to know how permanent this class may be. Yeltsin's government contributed to this class by distributing huge favors to them, and many believe that a small but powerful group of entrepreneurs sponsored the presidential campaign of Vladimir Putin in 2000.

Rural v. Urban Industrialization since the era of Joseph Stalin has led to an increasingly urban population, with about 77% of all Russians now living in cities, primarily in the western part of the country. Economic divide between rural and urban people is wide, although recent economic woes have beset almost all Russians no matter where they live. City dwellers are more likely to be well-educated and in touch with western culture, but the political consequences of these differences are unclear in the unsettled current political climate.

Beliefs and Attitudes In old communist days beliefs were molded on Communist Party doctrine Collapse of USSR led to hostility Mistrust of Govt.: Most people want democracy but do not trust the govt. to put into effect Statism: Russians expect a great deal from their govt. disappointed in current reforms Economic beliefs: Divisions in public opinion on market reforms. Most support transition to market economy, those associated with old Soviet regime less favorable inclined to support

Beliefs and Attitudes Westernization: Political opinion follows slavophile vs. westernizer Slavophile: Nationalism, defense of Russian interests, slavic culture Westernizer: Integration of Russia into world economy and global trade

Political Participation Voting Rate in the USSR was about 100%, however they were not competitive until Gorbachev Since 1991 voter turnout has been relatively high, higher than the U.S. Political alienation: 50% rate in 1993 Duma elections

Political Participation Due in part to failed attempted by the Duma to take over country Duma election turnout 56% Presidential election turnout 70% Political Participation in other areas is low Undeveloped civil society: private organizations & associations outside of politics Only 1% belong to a party

Political Institutions The Soviet Union was highly centralized, but still maintained a federal government structure. The Russian Federation has retained this model, and the current regime consists of 89 regions, 21 of which are ethnically non-Russian by majority. Each region is bound by treaty to the Federation, not all - including Chechnya - have signed on. Most of these regions are called "republics," and because the central government was not strong under Yeltsin, many ruled themselves almost independently. Vladimir Putin has cracked down on them recently, ordering the army to shell even Chechnya into submission.

Linkage Institutions Still not strong in Russia Political Parties still highly unstable in 1990s; power more concentrated in 2000s No real opposition parties now to Putin’s party Interest groups have no real solid footing Media has come under more govt. control

Russia Modernity

Institutions Constitution of 1993 – created Russian hybrid government mixing the Presidential and Parliamentary system Federation Council Duma Prime Minister President Voters

Institutions President – appoints prime minister and cabinet, issues decrees that have the force of law, dissolve the Duma Bicameral Legislature –Duma – lower house – half selected through proportional representation, half elected through single-member districts –Federation Council – limited power, can only delay legislation

Questions Members of the Duma (Lower House) get their jobs how? Members of the Federation Council (Upper House) get their jobs how? Duma has 450 members ½ are chosen due to proportional representation the other ½ from single member districts Federation Council is elected, 2 members from each of the 89 regions of the federation

Institutions Constitutional Court – judge the constitutionality of law, although the court has never challenged Putin’s policy

Public Policy Economy –transition to a free market is difficult –terrible inflation ( ruble = $1.60, 2002 – 30,000 rubles = $1) –2004 – better growth, better standard of living Foreign Policy –Confederation of Independent States (CIS) – attempting to imitate EU, old Soviet republics –Globally Russia disappeared post- communism, recently Putin has been rebuilding status

Social Issues Terrorism – Putin believes more gov centralization is the solution Re-centralization – more power to the Kremlin Civil Society –Russian have non-traditional ideals –All do not believe in life, liberty, property rights –Statism – have a strong gov or die