AP Comparative Government Russia Unit

Referendum

President can call for national referenda by popular vote on important issues

Russian electoral system (presidential and Duma)

Duma- Half chosen by proportional representation and other half is chosen by FPTP system.

Presidential Elections- First Past The Post, Direct elections, if no candidate receives 50% of the vote in first round, run-off between top 2.

United Russia

Pro-Putin party of Russia; Most popular party; 2007-315/450 Duma seats; 2011-238/450 seats; Medvedev is the leader

Oligarchs

Control big business, close to government is corrupt; Monopolized Russian industry and made lots of money in 90s; Dominate oil and media sectors; helped elect Putin

Russian Mafia

Large, more influential; Gained control of banks, natural resources in 1991 revolution; Money laundering, prostitution, pay offs; Many former KGB

Putin's changes & consequences on civil society

Putin increased minimum percentage needed for a sect; Added higher number of signatures needed and fees to be eligible; More difficult for smaller parties

Slavophile v. Westerner

Slavophile-Pro-Putin; Pro-Kremlin; Statism

Westerner-Demand for individual rights; separation of the church and state; Voice for the people

Level of trust in Russian government

The people of Russia do not really trust the Russian government. This is due to the government being very corrupt as the Russian Mafia and Oligarchs have connections with political leaders.

Cleavages in Russia

Biggest cleavage is nationality; 80% are Russian; Tatar=3.8% (Muslim); Ukrainian=2%

Because of structure of federation, ethnicity tends to be coinciding w/ region and often religion too

Most ethnic Russians identify themselves as Russian Orthodox; Other religions are represented in small percentages

Recent rapid rise in Muslim share of population (11-14%)

Social Class; Communist party members (elite) vs non-elite; small class of really rich (started w/Oligarchs) vs working class (middle class small by western standards)

Rural/Urban; 73% live in cities; Urban=education

Media in Russia

Purchase of state owned media (NTV, ORT and TV-6); Small media outlets (blogs) have been proliferating; Forbidding foreign ownership of media outlets

Masculinity's use in Russia

Masculinity is assimilated with power in Russia. It is used to allow Putin to stay in charge while reducing the voices of non-followers. Putin is synonymous with masculinity in Russia and no one can really challenge him due to this belief.

Chechnya

Primary Muslim region has fought for independence.

Shock Therapy

Economic reforms (immediate market economy); Russian economy does not respond to "shock therapy" reforms; conflict erupts b/w Yeltsin & Duma

Level of civil society in Russia

The level of civil society in Russia is low, but is steadily emerging since 1991; Putin has put up obstacles: Registration, reporting requirements, government suspension; 2007 restricting use of public demonstrations and protests

Sources of legitimacy in Russia

Political Legitimacy is very low. Putin= authoritarian control, but stability for Russia; Legitimacy has always been strong, centralized, autocratic rule; Tsars, Communist rule propagated by Marxism-Leninism, Democratic-Centralism: rule by a few for the benefit of many; Stalinism changed to totalitarianism; Constitution of 1993-provided for a strong president, although power of the president can technically be checked by popular elections and the Duma.