Comparative Government Russia

AP Comparative Government Russia

Source of Rational-Legal Authority in Russia

1993 russian constitution

Russia as a Semi-Presidential System

President who is elected and PM who is appointed

Illiberal Democracy

On paper it is a democracy but functions as an authoritarian state

“Shock therapy”

Dramatic change in economy from communism to capitalism

Glasnost

openness allow more diverse public expression tried to preserve communism (Gorbachev)

Perestroika

Started to allow for more free market and privatization in their industries

Characteristics of Authoritarian Rule

control of information such as media. Putin’s regime has brought up the traditional media sources as well as creating limitations on social media and civil society

Major Cleavages in Russia

Social class ethnicity rural/urban religion (russian orthodox vs. jews and muslims)

Characteristic/Significance of Chechnya

Region of Russian Federation that is predominantly Muslim and chechnan they are separatists have used acts of terrorism to try to advance separatist agenda but met with heavy response from Putin

Largest religion

Russian Orthodox

Fastest Growing religion

Islam

unitary power

centralized in one place/ national gov

Federal power

divided and shared between diff levels of government (nat and sub national govs)

Asymmetrical Federalism

Power is not split equally b/t diff levels of gov. so in Russia every Federal Subject has diff levels of autonomy and power

Westerner

more modern w/ more european/western views

Slavophile

Slavic people

what is Statism

Government should have control in life w/ significant role while you acknowledge its corruption

Presidential Election method

nationwide vote and 50% +1 is needed to win by using a 2 ballot system with the two top having a runoff system

Selection of Prime Minister

president selects

Duma election method

half by proportional representation and half by single member districts

Federation Council election method

some are appointed by Putin half are appointed by legislature in their region and the other half is appointed by the regional governor which is selected by Putin

what is United Russia

Putin's party they support and are against whatever Putin is for or against

what is the Communist political party

largest opp party

what is the Liberal Democrat party

extreme right but with an identity more closely tied with being anti-semetic

what is Yabloko

apple

what is a “Party Dominant system”

one major party who wins essentially every time

powers of the President

head of state appoint PM cabinet and governors

powers of the Prime Minister

head of government very little power (similar to US VP)

powers of the Duma

passes bills approves budgets and confirms presidential appointments

powers of the Federation Council

approves use of armed forces outside of Russia approves presidential nominees to Fed Courts

powers of the Constitutional Court

approves use of armed forces outside of Russia approves presidential nominees to Fed Courts

powers of the Supreme Court

final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases no judicial review

Use of Referendum in Russia

Rarely used in Russia

Definition and role of Oligarchs in Russia

Really rich person that controls major industries when russia privatized the rich people bought them up used to be consulted a lot bc they are important oligarchs critical of putin got problems

Civil Society in Russia

There are protests but they must be approved by the government voting linkage institutions

Media in Russia

Some privately owned companies but essentially all state controlled 140/178 in terms of Press freedom violence against media opposition

“State Corporatism”

The state determines which groups have input into policy making interest groups don’t have much power Central Election Commission: approves who runs for president

Nashi

largest youth group that is state sponsored to be a pro Putin organization

Putin’s efforts to limit democracy and consolidate his own power (See the section: “Putin: Stability and Retreat from Democratization”)

Party dominant system restrictions on NGOs restrictions on protests increase of party threshold from 5 to 7%

2011 and 2012 Protests in Russia and their impact

election fraud struck up these protests as seen by Navaldi calling out the fraud in Putin’s regime

How does a strong civil society bolster and strengthen a democracy? Why would a democracy ever restrict civil society?

The Russian orthodox church openly backs Putin and has condoned most of his actions but there is a lot of push back by p*ssy riot and the government has poisoned candidates that could challenge Putin

Compare Duma and House of commons

lower house, Makes laws and passes bills. • Conducts votes of no confidence. • Debates policy issues. • Represents the people. • Appropriates funds and makes budgets. • Approves/elects (NOT selects) the prime minister