Russia Welcome to True Democracy! *Be sure not to offend Putin in this presentation.*

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Historically based in strong autocratic rule under tsars 20th Century – based in Marxist-Leninist ideology of democratic centralism, rule of the few to benefit the many Stalinism pushed it to totalitarianism, complete invasive rule by dictators

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Nikita Khrushchev and Mikhail Gorbachev loosened Communist rule, leading to the collapse of the U.S.S.R. Constitution of 1993 – reformed Russia as a presidential republic Approved by referendum of Russian voters to build legitimacy Attempted coups and conflict between president and Duma suggested weakness Elections in 2000 and 2004 went smoothly, suggesting success

Historical Influences on Political Traditions Common Themes of Russian History: Absolute, Centralized Rule – Geography was subject to easy invasion and conquest, leading to unchallenged, powerful leadership Extensive Cultural Heterogeneity – numerous invasions plus expansion of borders created a diverse population

Historical Influences on Political Traditions Common Themes of Russian History: Slavophile vs. Westernizer – pride in slavic customs and resistance to outside influence conflicts with modernizing influences from the west Tsar Peter the Great in late 17th to early 18th century modeled Russian Empire on West Revolutions of the 20th Century Seize of power by Bolsheviks in 1917, keeping authoritarian style of rule, but changed social class system Dissolution of U.S.S.R. in 1991

Political Culture Influences Geography Largest territory in the world Includes many nationalities and ethnicities, borders many others One of the coldest in the world Few warm water ports, often motivated to conquer countries that blocked access to the sea Many natural resources were locked in Siberia, but are now accessible due to technological improvement

Political Culture Influences Eastern Orthodoxy Russia developed economic ties with Constantinople, not the West, in early centuries Missed out on Enlightenment and Reformation ideals Instead, valued statism, a strong state to protect them from geographic vulnerabilities

Political Culture Influences Equality of Result Skepticism About Power Russians tend to resent the wealthy Skepticism About Power Despite statism, Russians have little faith in public officials’ competence Exception: Putin, 70-80% approval rating Importance of Nationality Lots of stereotypes about Russians, Baltic people, Muslim-Turks, Jews

Political and Economic Change Attempts at liberalization have historically resulted in disaster Alexander II freed Russian serfs, created local assemblies, gets assassinated by revolutionaries (1881) 19th century tsars who used capitalist means to industrialize failed Gorbechev’s glasnost ended in widespread criticism of government, a military coup, and the collapse of the U.S.S.R.

Political and Economic Change Three major periods Tsarist Rule (13th Century – 1917) Mongol rulers established cooperative tsars over Russia, later lost influence Tsar Peter the Great (late 17th – early 18th century) introduced Western technology and culture Catherine the Great – ruled as an “enlightened despot”, authoritarian but for public good 19th Century – Decembrist Revolt (1825), loss in the Crimean War delegitimized tsars, who resorted to secret police and executions to stay in power Assassination of Alexander II led his son to undo all democratic reforms

Political and Economic Change Three major periods Revolution of 1917, Lenin, and Stalin Loss in Russo-Japanese War (1905) further weakened the state State collapsed in Feb. 1917 due to World War I Soldiers often fought with no guns or shoes Massive defections ended any sense of legitimacy Marxist exile Lenin returned to take power Lenin’s 1905 pamphlet “What is to be Done” Followers became known as Bolsheviks Formally seize control Oct. 1917

Vladimir I. Lenin (1870-1924)

Political and Economic Change Three major periods Revolution of 1917, Lenin, and Stalin 1918 Civil War Red Army (Bolsheviks) victory over White Army (funded by Allied Powers) Results in “New Economic Policy” which allows private property ownership in agrarian U.S.S.R. Death of Lenin in 1924, ensuing power struggle Stalin placed Communists (CPSU) at the center of control

Josef Stalin (1878-1953)

This is a doctored photo of Lenin “consulting” Stalin that Stalin used to legitimize his takeover of the CPSU. In reality, Lenin called Stalin’s personality “intolerable for a Secretary-General” and told party officials they should try to find a way to remove him

Political and Economic Change Three major periods Revolution of 1917, Lenin, and Stalin Stalinism Elite recruitment through nomenklatura, recommendation of high level party members to promote low level party members Collectivization – no more private land ownership, state run “collective farms” Peasants who resisted (kulaks) were sent to cities or labor camps, or executed Industrialization – Five Year Plans set ambitious production goals in oil, steel, electricity Plans carried out by Gosplan, the Central State Planning Commission

Politburo (12 members Central Committee (300ish members) General Secretary Central Committee (300ish members) Communist Party of the Soviet Union (7% of population)

Political and Economic Change Three major periods Revolution of 1917, Lenin, and Stalin Stalinism Purges – execution of millions of citizens and up to a million party members who were “disloyal” Reform Nikita Khrushchev wins power struggle in 1953 after death of Stalin Denounces purges deStalinization – loosened government control of press, decentralized economic decision making Relaxed Cold War tension Failure in Cuban Missile Crisis resulted in replacement by conservative Brezhnev

Political and Economic Change Three major periods Reform Mikhail Gorbachev (1985-1991) Westernizer attempting to save USSR from collapse Glasnost – “openness,” allowed political discussion and criticism Democratization – created a directly elected Congress of People’s Deputies, and a President selected by Congress, later elected Perestroika – transfer of state economic powers to the market, like authorization of privately owned companies, penalties for under-performing state businesses

Political and Economic Change Failed Coup and Revolution of 1991 Coup to remove Gorbechev in August led by conservatives, vice-president, head of KGB, top military brass Ended by popular protest, defection of soldiers Protesters led by Boris Yeltsin, recently elected President of Russia Had been removed from Politburo due to extreme views, but won popular election 11 republics declared independence after the coup, leading Gorbechev to announce the end of the U.S.S.R. Yeltsin initiates “shock therapy” – rapid conversion to market economy

Political and Economic Change Modern Russia Yeltsin resigned unexpectedly in 1999 Perpetual economic decline in the 1990’s “Loans for Shares” scandal Inability to work with Duma Numerous diseases, including alcoholism Rapid hiring and firing of Prime Ministers Resignation brings Putin to power, who wins reelection in 2000 and 2004 Stability in the political and economic system Retreat from democratic commitments of Yeltsin

Citizens, Society, and the State Cleavages Nationality 80% Russian, but many Tartars, Ukrainians, Armenians, etc. Most well-integrated, but slightly autonomous Exception: Chechnya, predominantly Muslim, fighting for independence Religion Tsarist Russia was Eastern Orthodox U.S.S.R. responded by banning all religion Yeltsin encouraged Orthodoxy again Most Russians say they are Orthodox, but rarely attend services

Religious/Ethnic Affiliation in Russia Religion Russian Orthodox – 15-20% Muslim – 10-15% Other Christian – 2% Non-practicing or non-religious is largest segment Ethnicity Russian – 79.8% Tartar – 3.8% Ukrainian – 2% Chuvash – 1.1% Other – 12.1%

Citizens, Society, and the State Cleavages Social Class Tsarist Russian nobles/peasant class system CPSU membership and nomenklatura replaced nobility as a status symbol, though egalitarian and blind to social background Now appears that market economy and entrepreneurship is becoming the basis of social class divisions Oligarchs – wealthy individuals believed to be “pulling the strings” of the government, and benefiting from preferential treatment Urban (73%) vs. Rural

Citizens, Society, and the State Beliefs and Attitudes Mistrust of the government Statism Economic beliefs – right/left divisions formed since Yeltsin’s reforms Conservatives are those who support “the good old days” of Soviet Communism Westernization – slavophile vs. westernizer still characterizes political divisions

Citizens, Society, and the State Political Participation Elections – voter turnout around 65-70% typically for president Civil Society Undeveloped private organizations (people don’t attend church, join recreational clubs, labor unions, etc.) Soviet system was state corporatism, party controlled all “private” groups Government still places tight restrictions on activities of groups critical of the government Youth Groups – created by Putin to support the government

Institutions Federal System 83 regions, 21 of which are non-Russian majority called “republics” Asymmetric federalism – not all regions are equally sovereign, some are more powerful than others Putin’s changes (since 2000) Super-Districts – 7 federal districts with head appointed by president to “oversee” local authorities Power for president to remove a governor Ended election of governors, now appointed Federation Council was comprised of the governors, now that isn’t allowed

Colored regions on this map are “republics,” each with relatively smaller Russian ethnic compositions, and with more autonomy from the federation than other Russian regions

Linkage Institutions Political Parties – based on personalities, not ideology, and loyalty is weak United Russia – party of power, built by oligarchs to help Putin get elected in 2000 CPRF – not really “communist,” but not reformist either Yabloko, Union of Right Forces – both reformist, support democratization and marketization Liberal Democrats – not liberal, not democratic, CRAZY!!

Actual things Zhirinovsky (Liberal Democrats) has said: “Jews are often to blame for Anti-Semitism” Visited the U.S., said that whites were “in danger of turning their country over to blacks and Hispanics.” "Condoleezza Rice needs a company of soldiers [and] needs to be taken to barracks where she would be satisfied." Advocated use of tactical nukes on Chechnyan villages Threatened to nuke Japan in the event of another Russo-Japanese War Claimed Russia possesses "Elipton," a weapon of mass destruction supposedly more powerful than nuclear weapons To eradicate bird flu, he proposed arming all of Russia's population and ordering them and the troops to shoot down the migrant birds returning to Russia from wintering Accused Great Britain (according to him, "the most barbaric country on the planet") of fomenting World War I, the October Revolution, World War II, and the collapse of the Soviet Union Got in a “juice fight” during a debate in 1995.

Linkage Institutions Elections Referendum Duma used for Constitution of 1993 regional Constitutions like Chechnya’s that declared it an “inseparable part” of Russia Duma 450 seats, was ½ SMD, ½ PR with a 5% threshold Changed by Putin to fully PR with a 7% threshold Parties with less than 7% now “shut out”

2003 Results, prior to Putin’s changes

2007, after changes to the system

Linkage Institutions Elections Referendum Duma Presidential used for Constitution of 1993 regional Constitutions like Chechnya’s that declared it an “inseparable part” of Russia Duma 450 seats, was ½ SMD, ½ PR with a 5% threshold Changed by Putin to fully PR with a 7% threshold in 2007 Changed BACK to ½ and ½ in 2013 Presidential 2-ballot majority Questionable in fairness and competitiveness (Medvedev won 71% in 2008, Putin 63.6% in 2012)

Linkage Institutions Interest Groups Oligarchs Formerly only allowed by CPSU under state corporatism Putin has returned to a similar system Oligarchs 1991 move to market system allowed many insiders (nomenklatura) to purchase state-owned industries for almost nothing Controlled early political processes, propped up Yeltsin and later Putin Ex. Berezovsky used his TV networks to help both, later worked with other oligarchs to create Unity Party Putin now solidifying control and loyalty from oligarchs Arrest of Khodorkovsky who financed opposition Arrest and seize of Gusinsky’s TV company

Linkage Institutions Russian Mafia – gained a lot of power in chaos of 1991, control local businesses Russian Media – privately owned, effectively state controlled Critical journalists often get killed mysteriously Journalists Union was evicted to give the building to Russia Today channel, state owned to promote Russia’s image abroad

State Institutions President and Prime Minister Semi-Presidential system President – head of state Directly elected by voters Appoints prime minister and cabinet appointments may be rejected by Duma, but Duma is dissolved if they reject the choice 3 times Can issue decrees that have the force of law Can dissolve the Duma and call for new elections Prime Minister – head of government not majority party leader, usually a career bureaucrat loyal to the President Becomes president if president dies or resigns Putin attempted to transfer control of military and FSB to Prime Minister before becoming PM

State Institutions Bicameral Legislature, Federal Assembly Lower House, the State Duma 450 Deputies, elected by ½ PR, ½ SMD elections Passes bills, approves budget, confirms presidential appointments Powers are limited due to presidents ability to pass law through decree Process of impeachment and rejecting appointments are effectively useless Upper House, Federation Council 2 members from each of 84 regions, 168 members One elected by provincial legislature, one appointed by the President Can only really delay legislation – can be overridden by State Duma

State Institutions The Judiciary Constitutional Court Supreme Court Attempt by Constitution of 1993 to create independent judicial system 19 members appointed by president, confirmed by Federation Council Supposed to have “judicial review” Supreme Court Final place to appeal civil and criminal cases Problem – most attorneys were trained in the old Soviet system Courts don’t tend to challenge government

State Institutions The Military 4 million members, most in world (compare to #2 U.S. at under 1.5 million) Source of power of CPSU from 1945 to 1991, but never challenged authority of Politburo Showing no signs of becoming a political institution