Russia
Isabella Fernandez
Brin Jagielski
John Learned
Grayson Rine
Citizens, Society
and the State
Cleavages : Nationality
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Most important cleavage
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80% of citizens are Russian others
include Tatars, Chuvashes, Bashkis,
etc.
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Country is made into a federation
divided into “autonomous regions” and
republics based off of ethnicity
Cleavages: Nationality (Chechnya)
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Muslim region that wants freedom
In attempt for freedom terrorist acts
have occurred
example: 2004 seizure of a school that
killed 350 people
Russian government is worried because
if they are successful then many
independence movements will take place
Cleavages: Religion
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Tsarist Russia was very Russian Orthodox (tsar is the spiritual head of the church).
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Then the Soviet Union prohibited all religious practices which caused many citizens to be non religious today
in the 20th century
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Once Boris Yeltsin encouraged the church to reestablish itself some went back to being Russian Orthodox
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Now many are still non religious and those who are hardly attend church.
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The Muslim population is growing and represented in Moscow, The Caucasus (area between the Black and
Caspian sea), Bashkortostan and Tatarstan.
Cleavages: Social Class
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Soviet takes away the old noble/ peasant
distinction and replaces it with the
cleavage of the members vs. nonmembers
of the Communist party - 7% were party
members which is where leaders were
recruited
Later egalitarian views were promoted and
the nomenklatura process was used to
recruit leaders which is choosing from
lower levels of the party
Beliefs and Attitudes// Political Participation
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According to polls citizens approve and support democratic ideals but many mistrust the
government
Even if there is mistrust many citizens expect the government to take an active role in
their lives
Divisions in public opinion on economy and market reform
Westernization follows divide between Slavophile & Westernizer
Protests have occurred in Russia over economic and political issues
Voter turnout is relatively high
Low participation in civil society, but slowly growing
Comparisons
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Nationality cleavages: Nigeria,
Mexico, UK, China
Religious cleavages: Nigeria,
Uk
Social class: UK, Nigeria
Rural v. Urban cleavages:
Nigeria, China, Mexico
Political &
Economic Change
Russian Political and Economic Change
Russia has almost always had difficulty with gradual and order change. Instead, its history reflects
a resistance to change by immediate reform and a tendency to descend into chaos or resort to
revolution when contradictory forces meet.
Russia has never been able to change political systems without some form of revolution or chaotic
movement (Revolution of 1917, Revolution of 1991, fall of Soviet Union)
Conflictual Political Culture
Slavic influence: Customs, language,
religion, and history that encourage
Russia to resist outside contact.
Western reform initiated by Peter the
Great in the late 17th century; attempt
to increase Russian power and
influence.
Conflictual political culture
Western reform, technology, and customs
were imposed on the tsarist absolute state.
Tsars and Communists
Tsars ruled Russia from the 14th century to the early 20th century. Control of Russia was
passed down through the Romanov family from the 17th century on, but transitions were often
accompanied by brutality and sometimes assassination. The tsars ruled with with iron fist and were
greatly obsessed with keeping their power.
In 1917, Lenin and the Bolsheviks seized control of the government after Nicholas II was deposed.
Communist rule was drastically strengthened by Joseph Stalin, who ruled as a dictator for 30
years. Stalin ruled like a tsar and helped form the Soviet Union’s command economy and
intolerance for political opposition.
Fall of Soviet Union and early Russian Federation
In the 1980s, Gorbachev attempted to introduce aspects of democracy and capitalism into the Soviet
Union. There were 3 main policies: glasnost, democratization, and perestroika. None of the
programs were successful and a coup (Revolution of 1991) occurred with the intent of removing
Gorbachev and restoring the Soviet Union. However, it was too late and the USSR would collapse
in December 1991.
Glasnost, Democratization, and Perestroika
Glasnost - Means openness and it allowed more open discussion of political, social, and economic
issues as well as open criticism of the government.
Democratization - Gorbachev wanted to keep the old Soviet structure but insert democracy as
well. Creation of the Congress of the People’s Deputies and and the new position of President
that was selected by the Congress
Perestroika - Gorbachev tried to keep the Soviet economic system while also transferring many
economic powers held by the central government to private hands and the market economy. This
was the least successful of the policies and led to the Revolution of 1991.
The Russian Federation: Yeltsin
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Boris Yeltsin became President of Russia. He was an
ally of Gorbachev and a charismatic man, but a failed leader. He instituted “shock therapy” on the
Russian economy, attempting to change Russia from a command economy to free market economy
overnight. He was also highly corrupt and many people questioned the legitimacy of the new
Russian political system.
However, during this time the Constitution of 1993 was written, along with the creation of the
Duma and Constitutional Court
The Russian Federation: Putin
Yeltsin resigned in 2000 and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin became acting President. Putin
supported Yeltsin’s reforms, though he was widely seen as a conservative who would help bring
stability to Russia.
When Putin honored the Constitution by not seeking a second-term, it was the first time Russia
had changed leaders relatively peacefully.
Now, Russia is becoming much more authoritarian today, especially under Putin; this does reflect
the history of Russia, which has been under the rule of strong leaders for hundreds of years.
Sovereignty,
AUthority, &
Power
Introduction
20th century public authority
and political power from
Politburo of Communist Party
When Soviet Union dissolved
authority and power vanished
Left government with
questionable legitimacy
Legitimacy
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Based on strong
autocratic rule, first,
tsars
Firm dictatorship of
party leaders
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.
m
s
uni
m
m
o
C
Marxism-Leninism
provided legitimacy
Attempted to
reconstruct power
base
rty.
a
p
a
it’s
Historical Political Traditions
Absolute, centralized rule
Cultural heterogeneity
Slavophile v. Westernizer
Revolutions of 20th century
Political Culture
Geographic setting
Eastern orthodoxy
Equality of result
Skepticism about power
Importance of nationality
How It Shapes UP…
● Authoritarian: China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria
○ Compared: UK
● CUltural Heterogeneity: UK, China, Nigeria, Mexico
● Nationalism: UK, China, Iran
○ Compared: Nigeria
● Communism: China
○ Compared: UK
How It Shapes UP (cont.)
● Rational-legal Legitimacy: Uk- common law; Mexico & China- code law
○ Compared: Iran
● Conservatism v. Modernism: Iran, Nigeria
● Revolution: China, Iran, nigeria
○ Compared: UK
Political
Institutions
and Public
policy
Political development
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Russian history is full of authoritarian, absolutist governments, making their
current system of government very experimental
In the transition between the USSR and the Russian Federation, many nowindependent republics like Ukraine and Kazakhstan separated from the USSR.
This lead to many republics following their example, but not gaining true
independence, leading to the asymmetric federal structure Russia has.
There has been a centralization of power since Putin has taken control with
developments like:
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Creation of Superdistricts
Removal/Appointments of Governors
Changes in the upper house
Elimination of single-member district seats in the lower house
(Map of Russia and Federal Subjects)
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22 Republics, have their own
constitution and legislature, home
to an ethnicity
9 Krais, essentially oblasts, called
krais because they used to be
frontier lands
46 Oblasts, has a governor and
local legislature
3 Federal Cities
1 Autonomous Oblast (Jewish
Autonomous Oblast)
4 Autonomous Okrugs, predominant
ethnic minority
Duma (The lower house)
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Created by the constitution of 1993, along with the presidency, prime ministry, and the
Constitutional Court.
450 deputies elected through proportional representation
Debates on and passes laws (most policy originates from the president or PM), approves
the budget, and confirms the president’s political appointments
Can override the Federation Council’s veto with a two-thirds vote.
Very weak since the president can rule by decree.
Technically can impeach the president (failed because the process was too cumbersome)
Federation council (the upper house)
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Typical European upper house, e.g. exists to have the
power to delay legislation.
Two members from each administrative district (89 in total)
Technically can ratify the use of armed forces outside the
country, change boundaries between the republics, and
appoint or remove judges, hasn’t yet.
Judiciary
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The
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The
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Both
Rule
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Constitutional Court
Nineteen member court designed to review all laws and decrees
Appointed by the president and affirmed by the Federation Council
Taken care not to cross the president
Supreme Court
Final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases.
Does not have the power of judicial review
courts are involved in policy and basically in the pocket of the executive
of law is scarce because of the large amounts of corruption in the government
Putin is attempting to revive the judicial system with jury trial and procedural law codes; however, the
changes are still in transition as many Russian lawyers were trained under the Soviet court system.
The executive (president and prime minister)
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The president is head of state and appoints the prime minister
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Directly elected to a limit of two consecutive six-year terms (formerly four years)
Boris Yeltsin, Vladimir Putin, Dimitri Medvedev
Putin and Medvedev have switched being president and pm
Can appoint the cabinet, issue decrees that have the force of law, and dissolve the Duma
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Essentially the head bureaucrat
Chosen for their technical expertise or loyalty to the president
Not the leader of the majority party like in other countries
Assumes role as acting president if the president dies or resigns
The prime minister is the head of government
Public policy - the economy
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Russian public policy alternates between authoritarianism and reform
Perestroika (liberalizing USSR to a market economy) led to widespread chaos
Yeltsin’s shock therapy policies created conditions that led to a small group of businessmen
running the country through ownership of many companies
Corruption in the private sector has tanked the ruble (Russian currency)
Russian economy is dependent on oil produced by state and private corporations
During Medvedev’s presidency there was a push for reducing the state’s role in the
economy, reforming the tax system, and improving infrastructure
Putin has made a push towards a state-dominated market during his presidency
Public policy - foreign policy
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Confederation of Independent States
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Organizes fifteen former USSR Republics
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Invasions of Ukraine, Georgia due to expansionist policy and separatist movements by ethnic Russians
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Opposed US military action into Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan
Invasion of Ukraine has sparked economic sanctions by the EU
Government opposition to liberal social policies has been met with protests and criticism (gay rights, abortion)
Ethnic Russians in most of Eastern Europe
Tenuous relationship with the US, EU
Joined World Trade Organization in 2012
Public policy - domestic issues
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Terrorism
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Based mostly in southern Russia and the Caucasus mountains
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Low birth rates - high death rates
Alcohol and drug related deaths are very high
Life expectancy for everyone averages to about 65
Muslims poised to become majority religion at around 2050
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Putin making strides towards state-controlled media, state-controlled oil (Gazprom)
United Russia the majority party in Duma - 70%
Demographics
Recentralization
Comparison - public policy and institutions
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Russia is far more politically radical than China and the UK
The president and prime minister practically switch every year and are always of the
same party, United Russia, making Russia a very democratically underdeveloped country in
comparison to the UK and China, but is around the same level as Iran or Mexico