1. 5.2 | Politics, Economy, and Society
Россия
5.2 | Politics, Economy, and Society

2. Russian Political Origin
Early Slavs were influenced by the “Second Rome”
They converted to Eastern Orthodox
Established feudal/imperial systems like “Second Rome”
More western Slavs (Czechs and Poles) would be influenced by Rome
Catholic

3. Russian Economic Origin
Slavic economies were agrarian with limited trade
Benefit of being close to Silk Road routes (the steppe)
Close economic ties to Constantinople (“Second Rome”)
Located on the Bosporus Strait

4. Russian Social Origin Slavic society was thus:
Eastern Orthodox Christians
Local agrarian farmers
Trading locally and regionally with Constantinople along rivers

5. Russian Political Development
After “Second Rome” fell in 1453 AD, Russia adopted what was left
Married the last princess of “Second Rome”
Adopted the symbols (the double-headed eagle)
Became the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Called its leaders “Tsars/Czars) (Russian for Caesar)
Made an empire, like the “Second Romans”

6. Russian Economic Development
The Russian Empire under Peter the Great
Expanded its navy to trade with the West
Reformed its taxation policy
Kept better records of the population
Built roads and cities

7. Russian Social Development
There were essentially 3 classes in Russian society
The aristocrats: the ruling class
The clergy: the church
The people: merchants, artisans, and serfs
Being a serf v. being a peasant (YOU!)

8. Russian Politics Today
The Soviet Union brought Communism: the Russian Revolution
Politics favored the communist party and things were not fair
Communism is meant to be complete equality: Karl Marx
Social restrictions and spying
After the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991
Russia fell on hard times
Vladimir Putin was elected in 2000
Former KGB and issues with fair elections
Political tyranny?

9. Russian Economy Today
Switching from communism to capitalism is problematic
State control to no control
A few businesses created oligopolies
Inflation and depression
Russian natural gas exports to Europe
EU reliance upon Russia
Russian oil reserves

10. Russian Society today Originally open to the West after 1991
But now beginning to turn back to Russian-made goods
Feels constricted by the US and the West
NATO expansion after end of Soviet Union
Under threat?
Modern but not on par with West
Modern Russian censorship