1. Russia

2. Stalinization “Backwardness” exposed by tragedy of WW I
Capitalism crisis – global depression
“Cheka” – secret police beginnings
Internal party struggles – external depression and chaos in Europe

3. Stalinization Comintern – global socialist struggle
Rapid, forced industrialization
5-Year Plans
Gosplan – central command economy
Command economy

4. Stalinization
Information control – modern media – radio & film industry
Nominal democratic processes
Assassinations of rivals precedent – “Great Purges” – Siberian exile
20+ million civilian deaths
Life of Ivan Dinisovich
“Totalitarianism”

6. Khrushchev Era – “Thaw Period”
“Peaceful Coexistence”
“Kitchen Debate” – Nixon/Ike summits
Soviet outreach to satellite nations – Egypt, Cuba, China
Space Race – Sputnik

7. Khrushchev’s Demise De-Stalinization Cuba – Bay of Pigs
Cuban Missile Crisis
Perception of weakness
change criticized
Deposed in 1964 – Kennedy connection

8. Reagan Wins the Cold War!

9. Constitution of 1993 - Presidency
Head of Gov’t & State
Appoint the PM*
Decrees – force of law
Dissolve the Duma
2-term limit – 2008*
Since 2004 appoints regional governors
Relationship with the oligarchy/elite?

10. Russian Duma – Legislative Branch
Bicameral
Duma lower house – ½ proportional, ½ SMD
Limited power to approve budget, pass bills
Veto power over PM*
Federation Council upper house – rubber stamp – 2 members from each of 89 regions

11. Russian Judiciary – “Procury” history
1991 Constitutional Court – no single judicial entity
Appointed by President
Emerging role – judicial review evolving?
Rights enumerated
5/6 Freedom House
Issues: corruption, independence, no jury concept, reverse assumption of innocence and guilt

12. Russian Military No clear political role – civilian control
Rapid build-up – 5% limit?
Nationalism
NATO – defense and security concerns
Border security
Nuclear weapons program?
Tradition of “statism”

13. Russia’s Recent Leaders
Gorbachev – perestroika – movement away from complete command economy – infusion of capitalism
Yeltsin – shock therapy – immersion into privatization, marketization, economic free-fall
Putin – increased nationalization, command elements – stability – prosperity centered on oil & gas market
What about Medvedev?

15. Political Parties Candidate/leader centered
Weak, disorganized, and fluid
20+ on the ballot in Duma elections

16. Political Parties United Russia – Putin
Communist Party (CPRF) – solid 2nd – Gennady Zyuganov – nationalism and central economic planning
Yabloko (“Apple”) – pro-democratic reform (Other Russia – Gary Kasparov)

17. Putin’s Youth Movement?

18. Internal Challenges
Russian media – NTV, Rossia TV, Channel One – free press or Putin control?
Russia’s historical censorship v. information age
Journalists’ deaths – chilling effect

19. Beslan School Hostage Crisis – regional governors – media

20. Oligarchy - Elitism

21. State Corporatism Government-run holding companies
And/or government decisions dictating success/control
“Insider privatization”
Patron-client system

22. Economic Challenges Compressed modernity G-8 membership
World Trade Organization
Confederation of Independent States v. EU encroachment
Oil & natural gas dependency
Marketization v. state control

23. Druzhba Pipeline – threats and stoppages

24. Foreign Policy Issues Border security – renewed military commitment
Iranian nukes
NATO encroachment
EU threat – Ukraine
Military – security – Europe v. Asia threat

25. Corruption and Organized Crime
Historical roots to Lenin era
Skilled in banking, finance, and I.T.
International presence growing in U.S. and Australia
Relationship with Putin?
Corruption Perception Index - CPI