RussiaRussia

Chapter 8Chapter 8

Basic FactsBasic Facts

► Total area: 1.8 times larger than U.S.Total area: 1.8 times larger than U.S.► Pop: 143.5 millionPop: 143.5 million► Administrative structure: federal system, 89 Administrative structure: federal system, 89

subnational governmentssubnational governments Executive: dual executive – president and prime Executive: dual executive – president and prime

ministerminister Legislative: bicameral. Upper house – Legislative: bicameral. Upper house –

Federation Council. Lower house – state Federation Council. Lower house – state DumaDuma Multiparty system with dominant party – Multiparty system with dominant party – United United

RussiaRussia

►Russia largest European country in Russia largest European country in population and sizepopulation and size Largest country in world – ten time zonesLargest country in world – ten time zones

►Dec 1991 – Soviet Union ended - Dec 1991 – Soviet Union ended - eventual formation of eventual formation of Russian Russian FederationFederation (one of 15 successor states) (one of 15 successor states)

►73% people live in urban areas73% people live in urban areas►Abundant natural resources: oil, Abundant natural resources: oil,

natural gas, mineral resources (gold & natural gas, mineral resources (gold & diamonds), forestsdiamonds), forests Oil and natural gas – main trading Oil and natural gas – main trading

resourcesresources

Critical JuncturesCritical Junctures

► Before 1917Before 1917 Tsar – monarch/emperor – autocratic stateTsar – monarch/emperor – autocratic state Patrimonial state – state not only ruled country, Patrimonial state – state not only ruled country,

but owned land as wellbut owned land as well►Agricultural system – tied peasants to nobles, state, or Agricultural system – tied peasants to nobles, state, or

church (serfdom)church (serfdom)►Serfs emancipated by Tsar Alexander II 1861 – Serfs emancipated by Tsar Alexander II 1861 –

attempted to modernize Russiaattempted to modernize Russia►Middle class (bourgeoisie) failed to emerge in Russia – Middle class (bourgeoisie) failed to emerge in Russia –

unlike Western Europeunlike Western Europe►Trade unions illegal until 1906 – after revolution of 1905Trade unions illegal until 1906 – after revolution of 1905

►Bolshevik Revolution & Soviet Union Bolshevik Revolution & Soviet Union (1917-1929)(1917-1929) First revolution – March 1917 – provisional First revolution – March 1917 – provisional

governmentgovernment November 1917 – Bolsheviks (Vladimir November 1917 – Bolsheviks (Vladimir

Lenin) took power – “land, peace and Lenin) took power – “land, peace and bread” slogan appealed to peasantsbread” slogan appealed to peasants

Extended civil war – 1918-1921 – whites v. Extended civil war – 1918-1921 – whites v. redsreds

Originally – Originally – democratic centralismdemocratic centralism – – hierarchical party structurehierarchical party structure►Vanguard partyVanguard party concept– party leaders better concept– party leaders better

able to understand interests of “the people”able to understand interests of “the people”

►Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) – aka Soviet Union - officially (USSR) – aka Soviet Union - officially formed 1922formed 1922 Gradual change from democratic concepts to Gradual change from democratic concepts to

authoritarian ruleauthoritarian rule Lenin died 1924 – rise of Joseph Stalin – Lenin died 1924 – rise of Joseph Stalin –

Trotsky & Bukharin exilesTrotsky & Bukharin exiles Period of international isolation – until WWIIPeriod of international isolation – until WWII Rapid industrialization and increased political Rapid industrialization and increased political

controlcontrol Lenin’s hope for other revolutions in Western Lenin’s hope for other revolutions in Western

Europe did not materializeEurope did not materialize

Stalin Stalin 1929-19531929-1953

► Changes under Stalin – consolidation of Changes under Stalin – consolidation of economic, political, ideological powereconomic, political, ideological power State ownership of land, factories, houses, storesState ownership of land, factories, houses, stores Collectivization of farms – led to famine, millions Collectivization of farms – led to famine, millions

peasants diedpeasants died Industry – focus on heavy industries (dams, mills) Industry – focus on heavy industries (dams, mills)

– production of consumer goods neglected– production of consumer goods neglected Social upheaval – people forced to move to cities Social upheaval – people forced to move to cities Dissidents killed or exiled to SiberiaDissidents killed or exiled to Siberia Isolation of citizens from outside world key to Isolation of citizens from outside world key to

Stalinist controlStalinist control

► Soviet Union and WWIISoviet Union and WWII Nazis invaded Soviet Union 1941 – Stalin joined Nazis invaded Soviet Union 1941 – Stalin joined

Allied forcesAllied forces War casualties high – 27 million died (19 million War casualties high – 27 million died (19 million

civilians)civilians) Major force in defeat of Axis powersMajor force in defeat of Axis powers After war – Allies allowed USSR to absorb new After war – Allies allowed USSR to absorb new

territories – Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldavia, territories – Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldavia, western Ukrainewestern Ukraine►Allowed to reshape governments in eastern Germany, Allowed to reshape governments in eastern Germany,

Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, & Romania& Romania

►Local Communist parties in these countries gained Local Communist parties in these countries gained controlcontrol

►Became the “Soviet Bloc”Became the “Soviet Bloc”

Post-Stalin - Post-Stalin - 1953-19851953-1985► Stalin’s death 1953 – triggered another Stalin’s death 1953 – triggered another

critical juncture – Cold War had begun after critical juncture – Cold War had begun after WWIIWWII

►Nikita Khrushchev – party leader from 1955-Nikita Khrushchev – party leader from 1955-1964 – attempt to de-Stalinize – thaw in 1964 – attempt to de-Stalinize – thaw in political & cultural lifepolitical & cultural life

► Leonid Brezhnev – 1964-1982 Leonid Brezhnev – 1964-1982 Much stricter controls – but predictableMuch stricter controls – but predictable Dissidents were arrested or exiledDissidents were arrested or exiled Tacit social contractTacit social contract – in exchange for political – in exchange for political

compliance, people had job security, lax work compliance, people had job security, lax work environments, free social services, minimal environments, free social services, minimal interference in personal life. Intelligentsia – more interference in personal life. Intelligentsia – more freedom to discuss issuesfreedom to discuss issues

Mikhail Gorbachev Mikhail Gorbachev 1985-19911985-1991

► Instituted four important concepts of reformInstituted four important concepts of reform Perestroika Perestroika (restructuring)(restructuring)

► Individual enterprises allowedIndividual enterprises allowed

Glasnost Glasnost (openness) (openness)►Relaxed controls on public debate & publicationsRelaxed controls on public debate & publications

DemokratizatsiiaDemokratizatsiia (Gorby’s concept of democracy) (Gorby’s concept of democracy)►Political responsive to public – basic electionsPolitical responsive to public – basic elections

““New Thinking”New Thinking”►Specifically foreign policy – rethinking international Specifically foreign policy – rethinking international

power in nonmilitary termspower in nonmilitary terms

►Gorbachev’s policies triggered change Gorbachev’s policies triggered change in relationship between state and in relationship between state and society in USSRsociety in USSR

►His greatest success in foreign policyHis greatest success in foreign policy Military buildup of USSR halted – arms Military buildup of USSR halted – arms

agreements with USagreements with US Cold War was “over” by late 1980sCold War was “over” by late 1980s

►Awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1991Awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1991

Russian Federation Russian Federation 1991 to 1991 to presentpresent

► Gorbachev removed from power 1991Gorbachev removed from power 1991► Boris Yeltsin & others responsible for formation of Boris Yeltsin & others responsible for formation of

Russian Federation Dec 1991Russian Federation Dec 1991► Commitment to Western-style democracy and Commitment to Western-style democracy and

economic reformeconomic reform► 1993 –showdown between Yeltsin & parliament1993 –showdown between Yeltsin & parliament► Economic reforms – not successful – led to political Economic reforms – not successful – led to political

crisiscrisis► Yeltsin ill by 1999 – resigned – nominated Vladimir Yeltsin ill by 1999 – resigned – nominated Vladimir

Putin as prime minister to take control (former KGB)Putin as prime minister to take control (former KGB)► Current president – Dmitry Medvedev (elected Current president – Dmitry Medvedev (elected

March 2008)March 2008)

Themes in Russian politicsThemes in Russian politics

► Tradition of strong state controlTradition of strong state control► Intertwining of politics, economics, ideology Intertwining of politics, economics, ideology

– make it difficult to create democracy and – make it difficult to create democracy and economic reform at same timeeconomic reform at same time

► Four transition processes initiated in early Four transition processes initiated in early 1990s – tried to tackle all at once1990s – tried to tackle all at once DemocratizationDemocratization Market reformMarket reform Redefinition of national identityRedefinition of national identity Integration into world economyIntegration into world economy

►Russian culture may have inhibited Russian culture may have inhibited adaptation to market economy:adaptation to market economy: Weak tradition of entrepreneurshipWeak tradition of entrepreneurship Widespread commitment to egalitarian valuesWidespread commitment to egalitarian values Reliance on personal trust vs written Reliance on personal trust vs written

contractscontracts Profit less important than support for friends Profit less important than support for friends

& coworkers& coworkers

However, younger Russians more able to adapt However, younger Russians more able to adapt to economic conditions – different to economic conditions – different expectationsexpectations

Social policySocial policy

►Under Soviet system – citizens Under Soviet system – citizens received extensive benefitsreceived extensive benefits Guaranteed employment & job securityGuaranteed employment & job security Retirement age 55 women, 60 for menRetirement age 55 women, 60 for men System plagued by shortages & low-System plagued by shortages & low-

quality service quality service Labor productivity low, work discipline Labor productivity low, work discipline

weak – “we pretend to work, they pretend weak – “we pretend to work, they pretend to pay us”to pay us”

Relatively low level of inequalityRelatively low level of inequality

►Russians thus expected broad range of Russians thus expected broad range of social welfare benefits – but weak social welfare benefits – but weak economy prevented widespread economy prevented widespread assistanceassistance

► In 1990s, increasing homelessness & In 1990s, increasing homelessness & poverty – gap between rich & poorpoverty – gap between rich & poor

►Unemployment rate 8-9% in 2004Unemployment rate 8-9% in 2004►Higher rates crime, suicide, alcoholism Higher rates crime, suicide, alcoholism

– have declined in past couple of years– have declined in past couple of years

Organization of the StateOrganization of the State

►New constitution in 1993 affirms New constitution in 1993 affirms principles of liberal democratic principles of liberal democratic governance:governance: Multiparties – competitive electionsMultiparties – competitive elections Separation of powersSeparation of powers Independent judiciaryIndependent judiciary FederalismFederalism Protection of individual civil libertiesProtection of individual civil liberties Strength of president’s executive powerStrength of president’s executive power

► ExecutiveExecutive Semipresidential system – resembles French Semipresidential system – resembles French

system – but stronger executive powersystem – but stronger executive power President is head of statePresident is head of state Prime minister (appointed by president, Prime minister (appointed by president,

approved by Duma) – head of government – can approved by Duma) – head of government – can be removed by two no confidence votesbe removed by two no confidence votes

President elected directly – every four years, President elected directly – every four years, limit two consecutive termslimit two consecutive terms

President – authority to issue decrees, which President – authority to issue decrees, which have force of law until legislation passed – but have force of law until legislation passed – but can be annulled.can be annulled.

Commander in chief of armed forcesCommander in chief of armed forces If president dies, prime minister steps in until If president dies, prime minister steps in until

new electionsnew elections

► The Legislature – Federal AssemblyThe Legislature – Federal Assembly► Power in legislative & budgetary areasPower in legislative & budgetary areas

Lower house – DumaLower house – Duma►450 members direct popular election450 members direct popular election►Named after assembly formed under tsar – Russian vs Named after assembly formed under tsar – Russian vs

Soviet traditionSoviet tradition►Elections every four yearsElections every four years►Elects own speakersElects own speakers►Main legislative branchMain legislative branch

Upper house – Federation CouncilUpper house – Federation Council►Two members from each of Russia’s federal regionsTwo members from each of Russia’s federal regions►One appointed by regional executive, one by regional One appointed by regional executive, one by regional

legislaturelegislature►Prominent businessman among appointeesProminent businessman among appointees►Not much powerNot much power

Political PartiesPolitical Parties

► Shift from single party to multiparty systemShift from single party to multiparty system► In early 1990s, formed around prominent In early 1990s, formed around prominent

individuals individuals ►Dominant party now, United Russia Party – Dominant party now, United Russia Party –

draws on following tendencies draws on following tendencies (but more Centrist)(but more Centrist)► Four party tendencies:Four party tendencies:

Traditional left – critical of market reform & mildly Traditional left – critical of market reform & mildly nationalisticnationalistic

Liberal-reform forces – favor Western-style market Liberal-reform forces – favor Western-style market reformreform

Centrist “parties of power” – political eliteCentrist “parties of power” – political elite Nationalistic/patriotic forces – national identity Nationalistic/patriotic forces – national identity

issuesissues

Ongoing IssuesOngoing Issues►National identity – haunted by Soviet pastNational identity – haunted by Soviet past

Independence of states – Chechnya – human Independence of states – Chechnya – human rights violationsrights violations

► Revolution – again? Revolution – again? Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan examplesexamples

► Religion – Russian Orthodox ChurchReligion – Russian Orthodox Church► Propaganda through electronic mediaPropaganda through electronic media► Effective use of natural resourcesEffective use of natural resources► Economy – large gap between rich & poorEconomy – large gap between rich & poor►Nuclear arsenal – protecting from terroristsNuclear arsenal – protecting from terrorists► Recent Georgia incidentRecent Georgia incident