Case Study: Russian Federation

Describe the history of the Russian state, especially the period of transition from the Soviet Union to the Russian Federation and the rise of Putin

• Kievan Rus – Early Slavic state.

• Ivan the Terrible – Moved capital to Moscow.

• Peter the Great – Westernization, moved capital to St. Petersburg.

• Catherine the Great – Strengthened European ties.

• Nicolas I – Moved away from European influence.

• 1861 – Emancipation of serfs.

• Nicolas II – Last Tsar, 1905 Revolution led to the Duma.

• 1917 Revolutions – March coup created a republic; November coup established communist rule under Lenin.

• Soviet Union – Stalin consolidated power, high state control.

• Gorbachev – Introduced Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring).

• 1991 Collapse of USSR – Yeltsin took power, transitioned to Russian Federation.

• Rise of Putin – Appointed PM by Yeltsin, won presidency in 2000, returned in 2012 after Medvedev’s term.

What is Russia’s government system?

Semi-President system with a strong executive branch

How is the Russian president elected?

direct election via a two-round majoritarian system (six-year terms)

what powers does the russian president have?

-appoints PM and cabinet

-can issue decrees and veto laws

-commander-in-chief of the military

-oversees intelligence and security services

what is the structure of the russian legislature?

• bicameral federal assembly

  • Duma (Lower House, 450 seats) – Mix of Single-Member and Multi-Member Districts.

  • Federation Council (Upper House, 170 seats) – Appointed by regional governors and legislative bodies.

What are Russia’s major political parties?

- United Russia – Putin’s party, dominant force.

• Communist Party of the Russian Federation – Opposition but state-controlled.

• A Just Russia – Pro-government but appears independent.

• Liberal Democratic Party of Russia – Nationalist, pro-Kremlin.

• Yabloko – Liberal, marginalized by the state.

What economic changes did Russia experience in the 1990s?

- Shock therapy privatization led to hyperinflation and economic collapse.

• Rise of oligarchs.

• Putin shifted power to security elites (siloviki).

• Economy remains heavily reliant on natural resources

How does political participation differ between France and Russia?

- France: Multiple competitive parties, open media, legal protests.

• Russia: Limited opposition resources, state-controlled media, protestors arrested.

How does political competition differ between France and Russia?

- France: Multiple parties compete, elections affect governance.

• Russia: Opposition candidates are jailed, exiled, or disqualified; elections manipulated

How does liberty differ between France and Russia?

- France: Political dissent allowed, protests frequent.

• Russia: Protests criminalized, media tightly controlled.

What does the phrase “Does someone lose?” mean in comparing France and Russia?

- France: Power changes hands regularly (e.g., Sarkozy, Hollande, Macron).

• Russia: Putin has won every election since 2000, with manipulated rules ensuring dominance.

How do democracy indexes compare for France and Russia?

- Freedom House (2024): France 89/100, Russia 13/100.

• EIU Democracy Index (2022): France 8.2/10, Russia 2.28/10.

• Polity IV (2018): France 9, Russia 5.

What are Krastev’s main arguments about modern authoritarianism?

- Lack of Ideology: No strong ideological vision, making resistance harder.

• Open Borders: Rather than reform, unhappy citizens leave (exit vs. voice).

• Election Manipulation: Imitation of democracy prevents real democracy.

• Government Stability: Authoritarian regimes can persist without public support.

Why do some theorists believe the Russian system is unstable?

- Modernization theory suggests economic growth should lead to democracy.

• Open borders supposedly encourage dissent, but in reality, people just leave.

• Imitation of democracy should lead to real democracy, but it hasn’t in Russia.

What does Krastev say about the future of authoritarian regimes?

They won’t necessarily collapse but may decay, becoming stagnant rather than democratizing