AP Comparative Government Pick up the article on your way in. You have 10 minutes to read it and answer the questions. SISMUN— – Be here by 8:30, dressed professionally. No jeans – Chairs—8:00 – If you are not going, your 2 nd position paper is due at midnight Friday. it to me at

Democratic Centralism Putin Referendum Nomenklatura Civil Society

Vanguard Federation Council Perestroika Proletariat Political Socialization

Lenin Shock Therapy Glasnost Medvedev Nashi

Liberal Democrats Constitution of 1993 Duma Proportional Representation Insider Privatization

Gorbachev Russian Constitutional Court 5 Year Plans Collectivization Oligarchy

Bourgeoisie Runoff election United Russia Yeltsin Soviet Union

Modern Domestic and International Issues in Russia

Population Decline Russian population is predicted to drop 18% by 2050 Reasons: – Economic hardship – Low birth rate (abortion a factor) – Low life expectancy for men (only 64 yrs.) Pro-Natalist Policy-- Government trying to get Russians to return home and have large families

Cleavages—Nationality (Ethnicity) Most important cleavage in Russia Russian Federation is 80% ________ – Other 20%--Tatars, Moldovians, Ukrainians, Chechens, etc. Ethnic regions considered independence, but want to maintain economic ties with Russia Why Russia is called a federation

Chechnya Primarily Muslim, has fought for independence for years Led to multiple terrorism acts Referendum vote led to new Constitution in Chechnya that gave them more autonomy, but also declared they would stay with Russia

Cleavages—Religion Main religion in Russia—Russian Orthodox Religion outlawed in the Soviet Union Yeltsin and Putin have revived the church Muslim minority leads to tension – Moscow and laborers

Punk Prayer - Mother of God, Chase Putin Away!"

Russia's Nationalists March Against Muslims “MOSCOW – Making Nazi-like salutes, thousands of Russian ultra-nationalists have marched in Moscow against Muslim migrants and soaring numbers of foreigners in the country, seeing them as a threat to the Russian identity. Islam is Russia's second-largest religion representing roughly 15 percent of its 145 million predominantly Orthodox population. The Russian Federation is home to some 23 million Muslims in the north of the Caucasus and southern republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan.”

Social Class Oligarchy vs. poor Oligarchs a symbol of insider privatization and corruption

Cleavages—Urban vs. Rural Russia is now 73% urban Some poverty everywhere, but rural areas are still poorer Urban areas more educated and western

International Issues Loss of global hegemony after Soviet Union collapse Not a member of the EU, but trades heavily with them Trying to develop close ties to BRIC countries instead of EU Joined the World Trade Organization in 2012 (greater access to global economy, but also had to accept increased regulation) Perceived invasion of Ukraine

Ukraine 4000 dead in Ukraine Proposed peace deal that would grant more autonomy to Eastern Ukrainian provinces now losing support Russian troops in Crimea? Western sanctions on Russia

Sanctions Russia has banned: – European cheese ($1.3 billion) – American chicken ($310 million) – Norwegian seafood (???)

Review! 1.What is a cleavage? 2.In your opinion, rank the following social cleavages/issues from most disruptive to least disruptive in Russia. Population decline, nationality, Chechnya, religion, social class urban vs. rural 3.In your opinion, rank the following international issues from most concerning to least concerning for Russia. Loss of global hegemony, working with BRIC countries, Ukrainian crisis, economic ties with the EU