Kelly Walker AP Comparative Government Module 5 Review Russia Kelly Walker AP Comparative Government

Communism Based on the inequalities found in wealthy countries Marxism: Father of Communism: Karl Marx 1848 Communist Manifesto: Capitalism exploited workers and increased the gap between the wealthy and poor Proletariat would overcome the bourgeoisie (revolution) Eventually social class would disappear- no private property Communism encourages equality and cooperation, and without private property to encourage greed, governments would not be necessary

Marxism-Leninsim Russia 1917 Lenin changed the nature of communism by asserting the “vanguard of the revolution”- a group revolutionary leaders who could provoke the revolution (communist party leaders) Transforms Marxism Based on Democratic Centralism- Rule by a few for the good of the many

Marxism-Leninsim All communist countries that followed based their system on the Soviet model Co-optation: Allocation of power throughout various political, social, and economic institutions Nomenklatura: Process which recruits elites to fill influential jobs approved by the communist party By joining the communist party, one may achieve a certain amount of social mobility, or the ability for individuals to change their social status over time.

Maoism Led by leader Mao Zedong Shared Marx’s vision of equality and cooperation Differed from Leninism Preserved China’s peasant-based society 1976- Deng Xiaoping instituted market-based socialism (infuses capitalism into the system)

Communist Political Economy Communist ideology led to political economies characterized by central planning (ownership of private property and the market mechanism were replaced with the allocation of resources by the state bureaucracy Logistical difficulties: No market economy based on supply and demand- more work to control a large economy Lack of worker incentives

Terms Bourgeoisie Central Planning Communist Manifesto Co-Optation Democratic Centralism Maoism Market-based socialism Marxism Marxism-Leninism Nomenklatura Proletariat Revolution of the Proletariat Social mobility “Vanguard of the Revolution”

1945-1991 Cold War ends: 1991 Russian Federation remains the largest country in the world Boris Yeltsin- 1st president Shock Therapy reforms Unstable leader- family members and advisors took control and ran the country as an oligarchy, which invited economic and political corruption 1993: New constitution allowed for competitive elections

2000-2004 Vladimir Putin: Increased centralization of power 2008: Putin aligns himself to be the Prime Minister and centralizes control to that office 3 paths to choose from: An authoritarian oligarchy, an illiberal democracy, or a budding liberal democracy?

History No legacy of a free market economy or democracy Illiberal democracy: direct elections, but does not allow for the strengthening of democratic principles, civil liberties, rule of law, and independence of the judiciary Slavic roots tend to support authoritarian rule Room for all 3 paths

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Power = Politburo 1991, a new government structure was left with questionable legitimacy because regime change was so recent and a total 180 from the past Historically, legitimacy was based on strong, autocratic rule (tsars, communist party, Stalinism) Marxism-Leninism (democratic centralism ideology) provided the legitimacy base for the party 1993 Constitution: Strong President checked by the Duma Yeltsin strengthened the legitimacy of the constitution by requiring a referendum by the people to endorse its acceptance Putin stabilized and legitimized the government

Historical Influences on Political Traditions Absolute, centralized rule Extensive cultural heterogeneity (huge challenge) Slavophile v. westernizer: George Kennan, Peter the Great, (Window on the West) Revolutions of the 20th century: 1917 Vladimir Lenin and the Blosheviks. Tried to blend elements of westernization with those of the slavophile. 1991, 2nd revolution occurred when the USSR dissolved

Political Culture Geographic setting Cultural orientation: Russia historically tied to Constantinople (Eastern Orthodoxy) but when they lost favor and the influence of Western Europe increased, that meant Russia did not share the values generated by the Renaissance, Reformation, Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment. Russian statism (strong leadership/control) developed over civil society and individualism

Political Culture Equality of Result vs. the equality of opportunity Many Russians resent differences of wealth or income. The west sees getting ahead as a sign of hard work, initiative, and talent Skepticism about power The importance of nationality

Political and Economic Change Gradual and ordered change difficult 3 time periods: A long period of autocratic rule by tsars 20th century rule by the Communist Party An abrupt regime change to democracy and a free market in 1991 2 transitions between time periods were sparked by revolution and quick, dramatic change

20th century rule by the Communist Party Lenin and the Bolsheviks: 1918 civil war between White and Red Armies. 1920: New Economic policy allowed for private ownership to exist under centralized leadership. Farmers prospered, industrialization did not take place Stalinism: Changed Leninism-Marxism: Central Committee of 300 elite communist party members. Politburo: 12 men who ran the show and was headed by the general secretary (dictator) 2 part plan: Collectivization and Industrialization (collective farms, five year plans, Gosplan) “Socialism in one country” extended to foreign policy The Purges

20th century rule by the Communist Party Reform under Khrushchev and Gorbachev 1953 Stalin Dies; 1956 Secret Speech and deStalinization ( loosening government censorship of the press, restructure of collective farms, etc) 1985, Gorbachev- Democratization, Glasnost and Perestroika. None of his reforms were carried out.

1991 to the Present 1991: failed Coup and Revolution Boris Yeltsin- “Radical Reformer” Constitution of 1993 created: 3 branch govt. with a president, prime minister, a lower house called the Duma and a Constitutional Court Shock Therapy Putin- more conservative leader who has stabilized Russia but has retreated from Democratic principles

Citizens, Society and the State Cleavages: Nationality: 80% Russian/Chechnya- Muslim concentrations in Moscow, The Caucasus, Bashkorostan and Tatarstan Religion: Russian Orthodox, nonreligious Social Class- (Mikhail Khodorkovsky of Yukos Oil) Rurual vs. Urban

Beliefs and Attitudes Marxism led to Russian nationalism and the belief that the Russian government and way of life would prevail- No poverty or oppression. Collapse brought out hostility toward government: Mistrust of Government Statism Economic Beliefs: Was communism better? Westernization: Slavophile vs. Westernizer

Political Participation USSR: Voting rate 100% (not competitive) 1980 voting reforms allowed for multiple communist party candidates 1991: high voter turnout compared to most industrialized democracies- however, turnout is declining Civil Society: Low participation in other political activities due to no active civil society Don’t attend church, sports clubs or other cultural groups- 1% belong to political parties Growing Civil Society (1980s) Russian Youth Groups: Nashi, (developed by Putin), Youth Guard and Locals developed to diffuse resistance to the 2008 elections

Political Institutions Experimental Government Federal Government Structure: 89 regions, 21 are ethnically non-Russian majority. Power is unequal among the regions: Asymmetric federalsim Putin crackdown on regional autonomy: Creation of super-districts- 7 federal districts that encompass all of Russia- 7 appointed president’s supervise the local authorities as Putin sees fit Removal of Governors- Law allows the president to remove governors who do not comply with national constitution Appointment of Governors: 2004 ended direct election of governors Changes in the Federation Council: Governors and Duma heads no longer were allowed to serve themselves, they had to appoint council members

Linkage Institutions Not Strong Parties, revolve around a person: United Russia: April 2001, merger of Fatherland All-Russia party and Unity Party- Putin’s party The Communsit Party of the Russian Federation Reformist Parties: Yabloko, Union of Right Forces Liberal Democrats Ideological parties replaced with parties of power

Elections Referendum Duma Elections Presidential Elections

Interest Groups USSR, only allowed under state corporatism The Oligarchy Under Putin, state corporatism, where the state determines which groups have input into policymaking, has become well established. Russian Mafia gained power after 1991 Oligarchy and Mafia pose a threat to the new democracy Media: Some Privately owned and many are state controlled

Institutions of Government Semi-Presidential system: Prime Minister co-exists with a president who is directly elected by the people Executive Branch: Head of state and head of government is separate (president is strong) Duties of President: Appoint Prime Minister and Cabinet Issue Decrees that have the force of law Dissolve the Duma

A Bicameral Legislature Weak check on executive power Duma: 450 Deputies- half by proportional representation, half by single member districts Federation Council: 2 members from the 89 federal administrative units. 1 selected by the governor and 1 is selected by the regional legislature.

The Judiciary Constitution of 1993 built a Judicial system not controlled by the executive. Constitutional Court: 19 members appointed by the president and confirmed by the Federation Council- makes sure all laws and decrees are constitutional. Independent from the executive? The military stays out of government-

Public Policy Issues The Economy Foreign Policy Terrorism Re-Centralization of Power in the Kremlin? Development of a Civil Society