Russia

Overview of State

Formed after the fall of the Soviet Union

Constitution ratified by referendum in 1993 (Rational-legal legitimacy) 

Putin, Russia's president, is like a single-all powerful leader 

Regime has to maintain state control over a vast territory 

No separation between church and state 

Overview of Nations

Multinational state 

Social groups between regional groups 

70% Russian 

15-20% Russian Orthodox 

Chechens still have Muslim faith 

10-15% Muslim 

Legitimacy

Traditionally there was a Tsarist system in Russia, with a single all-powerful person in charge

Putin aligns himself with Russian Orthodox church

Putin has Charismatic Legitimacy from being seen as a strong leader

Rational-Legal Legitimacy from Constitution

3 Regimes of Russia

1. Russian Empire

   1. 1547-1917 (Fell after Bolshevik Revolution in 1917)

   2. Tsar

   3. Authoritarian

2. Soviet Union

   1. 1917-1991

   2. Communist system/regime

   3. Public ownership → Command economy

   4. Dictatorship 

3. Russian Federation

   1. 1992-present

   2. Formed after the fall of the Soviet Union

   3. Starts out democratic but backslides

   4. Mixed economy

   5. No separation between church and state

   6. Authoritarian

   7. Elections are heavily manipulated and not competitive

   8. State controls all major media

   9. Opposition parties and groups and heavily restricted

   10. NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) restricted

Type of Economic system

Mixed economy

Command economy under USSR

Fall of USSR led to hyperinflation, then private owners (oligarchs) taking over indusrties that used to be state-owned

Putin reasserts control over energy sector and killed or imprisoned many of the old oligarchs, replacing them with new oligarchs called Siloviki “men of power”

Political Culture and Socialization

Orthodox Christianity

Less distinction between pope and head of state

Tzarist system, single Russian leader

United Russia Party

Putin created United Russia Party, which is the dominant party

Civil society restrictions, including mass media under federal state, restricting independent parties and NGOs

Focus on Russian nationalism and militarism

Creates Siloviki

Lenin

1.

Soviet Union 

1917-1942 

Led Communist revolution as leader of the Communist party 

Established USSR, first Communist state in the world 

Established full party authority, press crackdowns, and KGB 

Stalin

2.

Soviet Union 

1929-19 

Rose to power after Stalin's death 

Consolidated power and appointed loyalists 

Forced out Leninist revolutionaries 

Totalitarianism, destroyed public sector 

Agricultural catastrophe, famine leaves 7 million dead 

Created infrastructure  

Khrushchev

3.

Soviet Union 

1953-1964 

Politburo, centralized party/state bureaucracy after Stalin's death appointed Khrushchev 

Khrushchev believed Politburo was becoming to controlling and conservative, attempts reform to deinstitutionalize Politburo 

Politburo uses coup to take him out of power 

Brezhnev

4.

Soviet Union 

1964-1982 

Appointed by Politburo after Khrushchev was ousted 

Strengthened central control  

Gorbachev

5.

Soviet Union 

Last premier of Soviet Union 

Glasnost = political openness 

Yeltsin

6.

Russian Federation 

First leader of Russian Federation 

Elected president 

Banned communist party  

Shock therapy = Quickly transitioned economy from command to mixed 

Resigned  

Putin

7.

Russian Federation 

Limits on elections and federalism 

Mass media under federal control 

Lot of meddling in foreign elections, including US, led to increase in international hostility 

Oligarchs pushed out of country or imprisoned  

President and head of state of Russia 

Mikhail Mishustin 

8.

Russian Federation 

2020-Present  

Appointed by Putin  

Prime minister