RUSSIAN FEDERATION
History Absolute rule- Russians are used to authoritarian government Tsars Kept tight government control for protection from outside invaders (Huns, Vikings, and Mongols) every region has a kremlin Russia has always had a heterogeneous population, partially due to different invading forces, partially due to the large land mass Because of constant mixing of groups, hard to have each group in their own sub-state Great nationalism in Slavic customs and traditions
Peter the Great (1682-1725 10 when he comes to power) Allows study abroad uses the west to gain knowledge Strong naval power and also builds up the army Improves the infrastructure Conquers Baltic area to gain a seaport on the Baltic Sea to become his window on the west
Catherine the Great (1762-1796) Also allows students to study abroad. Westernizes Russia (still strong Slavic traditions) Russia is seen as a major empire by the time of her death Put out with the French Revolution, begins restricting study abroad Saw what giving a little power to the peasants did Hates Jews open to other religion Alexander I (1796-1825)
Nicholas I (1825-1855) Tsar after Napoleonic Wars cracks down on dissidents who had studied abroad Begins tightening the reigns stops study abroad Very much still a feudal society Russification programs
Alexander II Only 19 th century tsar to really sponsor reform Frees the peasants and sets up zemstvas regional assemblies Not happy Want free land Assassinate him
Alexander III Cracks down on human rights Begins pogroms against Jews and other religious minorities (some of the worst)
Nicholas II Did not want to become tsar Not a strong leader Russian Revolution and assassination of the royalty Final member of the Romanov dynasty
Communist regime(ussr) 1917 Revolution between the Bolsheviks (red) and the Mensheviks (white) Lenin is the leader of the Bolsheviks Lenin is a racial mix, becomes the father of Russian communism Lenin s family was orthodox and seemed very much like a traditional, close knit family Lenin s brother was hanged for trying to assassinate the tsar Russians saw the family of criminals as having bad blood Lenin has the ideal of equality for all Russians spread money out and everyone will be the same Leninism starts out very open, lots of freedoms, but that leads to people beginning to rebel no incentive to work Cracks down Takes away religion Takes away land Takes away bank accounts Everything can be censored Civil War (1918-1921) Most horrendous civil war in history around 13 million dead Huge wave of emigration lack of control at the borders brain drain After civil war, Lenin cracks down even more
Joseph Stalin (Man of steel) 1924-53 Perhaps the most evil man ever to live could be responsible for killing over 100 million of his own people Closed borders immigration was illegal Eliminates anyone who opposes him also ethnic minorities Places the Communist Party at the center of control no other political parties allowed Nomenklatura the process of party members selecting promising recruits Central Committee 300 party members that met twice a year Politburo the heart of the communist party 12 men that ran the country General Secretary Leader of the Politburo and the dictator of the country Two part plan for USSR Collectivization and industrialization (Stalinism) Collective farms more efficient, state run no private land ownership meant to feed workers who were promoting the industry side Some peasants resisted especially those who had more land (kulaks) forced to move to cities or labor camps (gulags) high death toll (about 20 mil) Five Year Plan set goals for production Gosplan the Central State Planning Commission center for economy and determined production and distribution of all goods in Soviet Union Foreign policy concentrate on internal development isolationist Non-aggression pact with Germany, which Germany breaks Joins Allied Forces Purges going strong in the 1930 s through the time of his death high ranking officials executed
Nikita Khrushchev 1953-64 Only Soviet leader to be removed from office peacefully Power struggle on who would be next leader Secret speech claimed to have found a letter of Lenin s denouncing Stalin destalinization reforms loosening government censorship of the press decentralization of economic decision making restructuring the collective farms foreign policy peaceful co-existence with U.S. criticized from the beginning for his reforms most not seen as working, also has military failure with the Cuban Missile Crisis
Leonid Brezhnev 1964-1982 Ended the reforms and tried to deal with economic problems
Mikhail Gorbachev 1985-1991 More western looking and more open to western ideas and reform Most reform done out of necessity because of economic disaster that USSR was facing inherited more problems than most were aware of at the time Had a three pronged program: Glasnost Openness open discussion of political, social, and economic issues also openness on criticizing the government Western nations applaud- causes problems at home- people encouraged open revolt, now republics are wanting independence Democratization Believed he could keep the same structure including communist party control, but also add some democracy A Congress of People s Deputies with directly elected representatives A new position of President that was selected by the Congress Did bring about some democracy, but also increased discord in the government by those opposing Gorbachev s views Perestroika economic reform Least successful of the reforms tried to keep some of the old and merge in new Transferred many economic powers that were held by the central government into private hands and a market economy Authorized some privately owned companies Penalties for under-performing state factories Leasing of farm land outside of collective farms Encouraging joint ventures with foreign companies Did not see the full extent of his reforms because he was kicked out of power before they could all be implemented
Post USSR - Russian Federation 1991- second revolution failed coup by Boris Yeltsin (the elected president of the Russian Republic and former Politburo member who got his position because of reforms Gorbachev had implemented) USSR dissolves into fifteen republics become fifteen independent states/countries (Commonwealth of Independent States CIS dissolves shortly thereafter) Boris Yeltsin is the president of the Russian Federation
Boris Yeltsin Constitution of 1993 3 branch government -president, prime minister, Duma (legislative body), Constitutional Court President to be strong, but checks and balances in place President could Rule by decree in national emergencies Could dissolve the Duma if he wished Could call for general elections Could call for referendums to go around the Duma White House Coup White House the building the Duma meets in Yeltsin turns tanks onto members of parliament Shock Therapy an immediate leap into a market economy without any transition period
Yeltsin Poor president Hires and fires numerous prime ministers Alcoholic & frequently ill; this leads to erratic political behavior Resigns before the 2000 elections Vladimir Putin, Yeltsin s prime minister, takes over and wins the 2000 & 2004 elections
Vladimir Putin Had been Prime Minister under Boris Yeltsin Strong handed (former KGB) Chechen Wars Only served the two terms 2000, 2004 (outlined in the Constitution), but made himself the prime minster under Dmitri Medvedev Back in power as President 2012 Medvedev is back as prime minister
Political Culture Geography Largest country in the world Its borders touch many other states and nations with very different customs and cultures One of the coldest countries Most of its cities are inland Always sought warm water ports Many natural resources (gas, oil, and timber) Most of it is in Siberia and is hard to get to, but as it is developed there has been significant economic growth
Eastern Orthodoxy Early on had strong ties with Constantinople and the eastern orthodox religion, made them different from Western Europe Develop statism a strong state was necessary to protect them from their geographic vulnerability The west develops civil society an idea of privacy where you are free from control by the state Eastern Orthodoxy was also very much linked within the government, so no separation of church and state ever developed (even under the communist rule where religion was forbidden government control was still seen ad a-okay by the citizens)
Equality of result vs equality of opportunity Communist regime instilled a strong appreciation for equality already had a base with a country mostly peasant resentment in difference of wealth or income Western thought is one of opportunity getting ahead is the result of initiative, hard work and talent With the Russian mindset it is difficult for capitalism to prosper
Skepticism about power Even though Russians are very dependent on the government, they can be very hostile to it demonstrated in Glasnost. Still expect the state to take an active role in their lives more of a subject than a participant Today, polls show they have very little faith in the political system,however, Putin had strong approval ratings 70-80% Most polls show that the people support democratic ideals (free elections and civil liberties), but don t trust the government to make them a reality
Importance of nationality Always has been a country of heterogeneity and of discrimination of groups based on stereo-types Baltic people are considered civil and sophisticated Muslim-Turkic people are disliked Some blame Jews for all of their current problems Nationalities that are looked on as less desirable have passed laws to discourage Russians from living within their borders
Revolution as opposed to evolution Britain has a political culture of evolution Russia has always had a difficult time with gradual and ordered change history reflects the tendency to resort to revolution when change is occurs
Cleavages Nationality 80% of the country is Russian other nationalities Tatars, Ukrainians, Armenians, Chuvashes, Bashkis, Byelorussians, and Moldavians Organized into a federation with autonomous regions, republics, and provinces whose borders are based on ethnicity Most of the republics would like to breakaway, but have trade benefits with the Russian government that make them stay. Chechnya Muslim region that desires to be separated. Very strong independence movement and have resorted to terrorist acts (2004 seized a school, ended up killing more than 350 people, many children) Other republics watch Chechnya Entire Caucus region very tense 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia
Religion Under Tsars Russian Orthodox with Tsar as head of church and state Under communist regime no religion allowed Yeltsin tries to re-establish the Russian Orthodox church Most Russian say they are Russian Orthodox, but really non-religious Rapid rise in Muslim population - Russia has more Muslims than any European state except Turkey They are in 3 areas Moscow laborers who have migrated to Moscow to find work The Caucasus Area between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea hot spot of trouble One of Putin s biggest issues to deal with during his presidency with the violence. Still volatile today Bashkortostan and Tatarstan Calmer in these two areas than in the Caucasus region
Social class Social class differences were somewhat destroyed with Soviet regime, but created new division Communist party member vs. non member 7% were party members, but all leadership came from this group also economic benefits came to members Largely an egalitarian society, but classes may be developing with the new market economy
Urban vs. rural Under Stalin s industrialization of the Soviet Union, huge push to the city 73% of all Russians now live in the city primarily those cities in the western region (in the US according to the 2000 census 79% live in cities over 200,000) City dwellers more likely to be educated and in touch with western culture
Political institutions Federal government structure that is highly centralized 89 regions (21 are non ethnically Russian by majority) Each region is bound by treaty to the federation (but not all have signed on) Many of the regions are called republics and several have tried to make claims of sovereignty under Boris Yeltsin many ruled themselves fairly independently Asymmetric federalism some regions are stronger than others, so power is not granted equally across the country Under Putin it has become increasingly centralized Creation of 7 super districts to encompass all of Russia. Each district headed by a presidential appointee to make sure local authorities are following Putin s wishes President has the power to remove regional governors if they are not following the national constitution The governors of the 89 regions are now nominated by the president and then confirmed by the individual legislatures (had been directly elected) The Federation Council (upper leg. body)was comprised of the governors and Duma heads of each region, now they can appoint council members, but cannot serve themselves Duma now comprised of all proportional representation to eliminate candidates that were regionally popular
Political Parties Not much party loyalty very weak and fluid trying to reduce the number of political parties United Russia Putin s party strongest of the parties The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) 2 nd strongest party old Soviet party (sort of) opposes reform Liberal Democrats very nationalistic, anti Semitic have a relatively small showing in the Duma Fair Russia very nationalistic, and socialistic (4 th in Duma 9%) Reform parties Yabloko pro democracy, intellectuals lost all seats in Duma with Putin s reforms Union of Right Forces right in that they know the truth free market, and privatization of industry
Elections Three types of national elections Referendum Constitution of 1993 allowed for president to call for a national vote on important issues Duma elections 450 seats 4 year terms -now all elected proportionally Putin stated it was done to make the Duma less fragmented Presidential elections 4 year terms two rounds if no one gets the 50% - question as to the honesty of the elections 2001 law passed that restricted the right of regional parties to run a presidential candidate
Interest groups Oligarchs those who were on the inside and able to buy up former state owned industries when capitalism was adopted by Yeltsin they became wealthy and powerful, influencing policy have been restricted under Putin State corporatism state determines which groups will have input into policy making. If companies are becoming too independent or too rich it will be cited with infractions and forced to sell to gvt. Owned companies or men loyal to Putin insider privatization Russian Mafia gained power during 1991 control local businesses, natural resources, and banks. Get payoffs from local businesses protection money, money laundering, and deals made with Russian gvt. Officials
Media Pravda had been official communist newspaper for the party now independent (scandal rag) Newspaper and media supposed to be free and able to criticized the government, however deaths and media shutdown have occurred when the govt. has been criticized They are privately owned, but do have state control Putin has tightened the state s control over the media
Institutions of government Executive Branch President and Prime Minister President - head of state Not ceremonial as in Britain 4 year term limit of 2 terms Under Putin it became very strong Can appoint Prime Minister and cabinet Can issue decrees that are law Can dissolve the Duma If president dies or resigns, Prime Minster becomes acting president Prime Minister head of government Appointed because they are bureaucrats, have special technical expertise, and are loyal to the president Not head of party as in Britain With Putin as prime minister it seems as though he is running the show still
Legislative Branch bicameral Duma Lower house - 450 deputies Pass bills, approve the budget, confirm presidential appointments Power still limited because president can rule by decree Most legislation originates with the president or prime minister, but must pass through the Duma before they become law Federation Council Upper house Made up of two members from each of the 89 regions one appointed by governor, one by legislature Can delay legislation Duma can override by 2/3 vote Change boundaries, ratify use of armed forces outside of country, appoint and remove judges (only on paper none have been used yet)
Judicial Branch Constitutional Court Made up of 19 members appointed by president and confirmed by the Federation Council Constitution also provided for a Supreme Court Both are to make sure all laws and decrees are constitutional none dare cross Putin Very much in transition trying to institute jury trial (except in Chechnya) and claim of innocence Corruption abounds
Current issues Economy ups and downs 1991-97- down, 1997-2007 up, Down present Foreign Policy CIS Involvement in Ukrainian elections 2007 Estonia removes Soviet era statue 2008 invasion of Georgia Relations with the west Loss of status with end of collapse of Soviet Union Strain in relations with UK after and espionage controversy in 2006 Terrorism Strain in US relations with Iraq war Edward Snowden 2014 Olympics passed anti-homosexual law From within more than outside attacks Boston Marathon bombers Population Dramatic drop in population 141 million now down from 148 million in 1990 two reasons Low birth weight Poor health habits Life expectancy for men 59; women 72 Encouraging a move back home Re-centralization of power in the Kremlin Putin s role Statism vs. civil society