Understanding Authoritarianism and Political Structures in Russia

Competitive authoritarian state

A country where elections are held but outcomes are determined by elite rulers, with limited pluralism and civil rights.

Authoritarianism

A regime ruled by a few leaders, where citizens' ability to affect decision-making is limited and basic rights are reduced.

Illiberal democracy

A system with democratic institutions that lacks rule of law, allowing leaders to operate beyond constitutional limits.

Vanguard party

The idea by Lenin asserting that a single party should direct society towards communism.

Democratic Centralism

A system where a communist party provides policies approved by members, allowing no serious debate or opposition.

Autocracy

Rule by a single individual with absolute power over the state.

Czar (Tsar)

The title of Russia's emperor before the 1917 revolution.

Bolsheviks

The Leninist party that seized power in 1917, promoting vanguard rule.

V.I. Lenin

The leader of the Bolsheviks who oversaw the creation of the Soviet Union.

Command economy

A socialist economic system where production and distribution decisions are highly centralized.

Central Planning

A mechanism to direct a command economy.

Cold War

A period of tension between the US and USSR from 1949 to 1989 characterized by ideological conflict.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Soviet leader who attempted reforms in the USSR, leading to increased opposition.

Boris Yeltsin

The first president of Russia who sought to establish a liberal democracy and initiate radical economic reforms.

Shock Therapy

A policy to rapidly transform a command economy into a market economy, often with devastating effects.

Oligarchs

Businessmen who gained wealth during shock therapy and influenced the political system.

Vladimir Putin

Former president and prime minister of Russia, known for centralizing power and reducing democracy.

Bicameral

A legislative system divided into two houses, such as Russia's Duma and Federation Council.

Asymmetric Federalism

A system where different administrative units within a state hold unequal power.

Semi-presidential

A political system where a president shares power with a prime minister, though the president holds greater authority.

Duma

The lower house of Russia's legislature, which initiates and approves legislation.

Federation Council

The upper house of Russia's legislature, composed of two representatives from each federal unit.

Second-round voting

A runoff election if no candidate receives a majority of votes in Russia's presidential elections.

Mixed (electoral) System

An electoral system using both single-member district plurality and proportional representation in Russia.

Parties of Power

Political parties in Russia that align around powerful individuals rather than an ideology.

United Russia

The dominant political party in Russia that has won majorities, lacking a clear ideology.

CPRF

Communist Party of the Russian Federation, emerged post-Soviet Union and rejects capitalism.

Invalid/black votes

A form of protest indicating opposition to the political system in Russia.

Alexei Navalny

Opposition leader in Russia who was imprisoned and attempted to run for president.

Key performance indicators

Targets set for voter turnout to mobilize support for elections in favor of Putin's party.

Foreign agents

A label used to discredit and suppress opposition groups in Russia, particularly those receiving foreign funding.

State capitalism

A system where the state partially or fully owns businesses, leading to corruption and inefficiency.

Privatization

Yeltsin's policy to transition from a command economy to a market economy by privatizing state assets.

Siloviki

An elite group of strongmen in Russia's security and military sectors who gain wealth through business connections.

Resource curse

An economic condition where reliance on natural resources hinders broader economic development.

Sanctions

Penalties imposed on countries for violating international laws or acting aggressively.

Gay propaganda law

Russian law prohibiting the spread of information regarding LGBT issues to minors.

NATO

A military alliance formed in 1949 for collective security and political dialogue among member states.

Annexation

The forcible acquisition of territory by a state without consent.

No limits

Putin's phrase indicating the unrestricted nature of Russia's relationship with China.