1. RUSSIA

2. History The Tsarist regime Bolshevik revolution (1917) Lenin (1917-24)
Stalin ( )
Gorbachev ( )
Demise of the USSR
Yeltsin ( )
Putin(2000-

3. Political Economy From communism to capitalism
Economic assets owned by the state
Mass education and low inequality
: Gorbachev’s limited reforms
1992- Yeltsin’s «shock therapy»
Privatizing SOEs
Opening economy to foreign investors

4. Political Economy The rise of the oligarchs
Loans for shares
Russian capitalists with connections
Agricultural production declined, imports replaced domestic products

5. Which is why the recent food sanctions are important for Russia

6. Political Economy Russian economy heavily reliant on gas
Resource curse:
corrupt politics
unstable terms of trade, because the prices of natural resources fluctuate widely.
hinders development of competitive manufacturing
1998 economic crisis

7. Political Economy Putin and the oligarchs
Media, Yukos allegations of tax evasion
Press freedom 148/180 (world press freedom index)
Corruption: state capture
Firms shaping laws
Cutbacks in welfare programs
Weak tradition of individual entrepreneurship
Reliance on personal trust not contracts

8. Governance and Policymaking
A strong President
To lead in a period of transition
Legacy of a strong state tradition
Dual executive
President and the Prime Minister
Bicameral legislature: Federal Assembly
The Soviet legacy of hierarchical organization
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Party dominance then  individual leaders’ dominance today

9. Governance and Policymaking
1993 Constitution: Semi-presidential system
President:
Directly elected for 6 years, 2 consecutive terms.
foreign affairs, security, relations with regions
Appoints the PM, approval of the Parliament lower house (Duma)
If Duma rejects the PM three times, President can dissolve it
Proposes members of Constitutional, Supreme courts, which are approved by Duma
Right to call a state of emergency, call referendums

10. Governance and Policymaking
Presidential decrees have force of law until the Parliament passes a formal legislation
Yeltsin used decrees more often than Putin
Impeachment for treason is possible
Federal Assembly+ Supreme Court+Constitutional Court
PM: economy and related areas
PM can be removed by Duma with two consecutive votes of no confidence

11. Governance and Policymaking
State may own control of shares in key firms.
Gazprom: federal government owns 50%
Several TV stations are publicly owned
Judiciary
The Constitutional Court is cautious not to confront the executive

12. Governance and Policymaking
Federation according to constitution
Central government- constituent units have powers
Constituent units: republics, regions, districts, cities
Ethnic groups are regionally concentrated
Central government sensitive relationship with ethnic republics, e.g. Tatarstan, Chechnya
President appoints regional heads since 2004

13. Governance and Policymaking
Legislature
Duma (Lower chamber): 450 seats
Since 2005
directly elected by proportional representation
7% threshold
Federal Council (upper chamber): 170 seats, 2 each unit
1993: directly elected representatives
2000: one appointed by the regional head, the other by the regional legislature

14. Legislative Process DUMA FEDERAL COUNCIL Approve
If rejects, Duma can override by 2/3 votes
2/3 votes of both chambers
veto
PRESIDENT

15. Security and governance
Beslan hostage crisis 2004

16. Security and governance
Putin used Beslan (N. Ossetia) as an excuse to further centralize power
Foreign-funded NGOs are restricted

17. Political Parties Left (social state slow reforms)
Nationalist (no westernization)
Liberal (rapid market reforms and integration with West)
Centrist: United Russia mix of all