1. The Russian Federation 1991-Present
Wikipedia

2. 1991: A Failed Coup and Revolution
August 1991: Conservatives (those who did not favor Gorbachev’s reforms) led a coup d’etat against Gorbachev
The coup failed: protests, military defected
Boris Yeltsin (elected president of the Russian Republic) led protests (kicked out of Politburo because of radical views)
Advocated extreme reform measures
Gorbachev restored to power until
the demise of the USSR

3. New State, New Leader: Boris Yeltsin
Yeltsin creates a western-style democracy
Constitution of 1993 (three-branch
government, president, prime minister,
a lower legislative house or Duma, and
a Constitutional Court)
Shock Therapy: an immediate market economy
Yeltsin: A Poor leader
Frequent illnesses, Alcoholic
Erratic behavior: hired and fired multiple Prime Ministers
Shortly before the 2000 election, installs Vladimir Putin as Prime Minister and then resigns
Acting President Putin wins a peaceful 2000 election

4. Political Participation
Until Gorbachev’s election reforms, voter turnout 100%
Gorbachev creates competitive elections, no alternate party to run
Only “alternate candidates” within the CCP could run against the designated party candidate
Since 1991, relatively high voter turnout
Undeveloped civil society (private organizations and associations outside of politics)
Only 1% report belonging to a political party
1991
75%
2004
65%
Russian Presidential
Elections

5. Political Institutions
Traditionally, authoritarian regime types
1990 reforms (democracy and free market) are experimental
New regime must account for Russian culture and traditions
Russian politics and government settling into a pattern

6. Political Institutions
USSR: Highly centralized
Maintained a Federal Government Structure
Russian Federation retained this model
Currently: 89 regions (21 are ethnically non-Russian by majority)

7. Political Institutions
Each region is bound by treaty to the Federation
Chechnya
Regions called “republics”:
Under Yeltsin, Republics ruled themselves independently
Putin cracks down:
Army into Chechnya
Removes governors from office if they refuse to subject local law to the national constitution
2004, governors are no longer elected but appointed by the president, and confirmed by regional legislators
As a result, the “Federation” is still highly centralized

8. Linkage Institutions Linkage Institutions: Political Parties Elections
Interest groups
Media
Not strong in Russia
Parties unstable and fluid
2000, power concentrated in Putin’s party (no strong opposing parties in existence)
Interest groups are weak (no civil society)
Media under government control
Clip art

9. Political Parties
New
Small factional parties (1995, 45 parties on the Duma ballot)
First parties centered around a person or a particular issue, not ideology
Number of parties have shrunk
No time to develop party loyalty
Leadership continues to be personalistic
Parties weak and fluid
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10. Political Parties
United Russia, 2001: Fatherland all-Russia Party and Unity Party of Russia
Supported Putin
Founded by oligarchs and entrepreneurs
2004, won 221 of 450 seats
Many minor parties support Putin
Putin won with 71% with no serious challengers
No real ideology-pro-Putin

11. Political Parties The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF)
Second strongest party in the Duma
1995-held 157/450
2003-held only 12.6% of Duma or 51 seats
Gennady Zyuganov (2nd behind Putin in 2000 with 29.21%)
Vladimir Tikhonov- breakaway faction leader, weakened the party

12. Political Parties Reformist Parties:
Yabloko: Pro-democracy. Grigori Yavlinski came in third in 2000 with 5.8% of the vote. Only 4 seats in the Duma
Union of Right Forces: “Right” in understanding the truth. Development of the free market and privatization of industry. Only 3 seats in the Duma.

13. Political Parties The Liberal Democratic Party
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, controversial leader
Would use nukes against Japan
Frequent anti-Semitic remarks (he’s Jewish)
Blatant sexist remarks
Annex Poland, Finland, and Alaska
Won 11% of the total vote in 2003 Duma elections, or 37 seats