Russia - APCG

asymmetric federalism

when power is divided unevenly between regional bodies

Communist Party of the Russian Federation

successor to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

Federation Council

upper house of the Russian legislature

glasnost

"openness"; the policy of political liberalization implemented in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s

Just Russia

a small party in the Russian Duma with a social-democratic orientation

nomenklatura

politically sensitive or influential jobs in the state, society, or economy that were staffed by people chosen or approved by the Communist Party

oligarchs

Russian people noted for their control of large amounts of the Russian economy (including the media), their close ties to the government, and the accusations of corruption surrounding their rise to power

perestroika

literally, "restructuring"; the policy of economic liberalization implemented in the Soviet Union in the 1980s

Politiboro

the top policy-making and executive body of a communist party

Shock therapy

a process of rapid marketization

siloviki

"men of power" who have their origins in the security agencies and are close to President Putin

United Russia

main political party in Russia and supporter of Vladimir Putin
restoration of Russia as a great power, national pride, economic stability

Yabloko

small party in Russia that advocates democracy and a liberal political-economic system

command economy

government dictates how much is produced and consumed

Boris Yeltsin

first Russian president, initiated shock therapy to try and transition from command to market economy

Putin's positions of power since 2000

2000-2008: President
2008-2012: appointed PM by new president
2012: elected president, then re-elected in 2018
in 2021, constitution is changed to allow Putin to run for re-election in 2024

Mikhail Gorbachev

last leader of the Soviet Union

creation of super-districts

in response to independence movements, Putin appointed super-governors of these districts to oversee regional governments

removal and appointment of governors

changes to constitution that have allowed President to remove governors and for a time indirectly appoint governors (2005-2012)

Federation Council reform

in 2002 Putin had the Constitution reformed to prohibit governors from serving on the Council, instead governors appoint people on it

managed elections

2004, 2008, and 2012 presidental elections have all shown signs of the state being heavily involved in the results

electoral system for State Duma

2005 law change from mixed system to fully PR, but need 7% of the vote
helped Putin's party win
now mixed electoral system again

president

head of state
directly elected in a two-ballot majority system (runoff)
six-year terms
appoints judges to Constitutional Court and Supreme Court, Federation Council approves
appoints super-governors of super-districts

prime minister

head of government
appointed by president with approval of Duma
propose budget, appoint cabinet, implement government policy

bureaucracy in Russia

many government workers under Communist rule, now a patron-client network

how are State Duma deputies elected

450 deputies elected via mixed system of FPTP and PR, 5 year terms

Duma

lower house of the Russian legislature

State Duma powers

make laws
override veto
impeach president
approve president's appointment of PM and can call for a vote of no confidence against PM
amend Constitution
behaves like rubber-stamp

how are members of Federation Council elected

appointed, one member is chosen by the reigonal governor and the other by the regional legislature, no fixed terms (based on local elections)

Federation Council powers

vote to approve bills by Duma (if they reject, Duma can override)
approve presidental appointees to high courts
appprove declaration of war & treaties
impeach president
amend Constitution

Constitutional Court

highest court
19 members, appointed by president and confirmed by Federation council
12 year terms
judicial review on national + regional laws

Supreme Court

high court
115 judges, nominated by president and confirmed by federation council
oversee criminal and civil cases

military in Russia

served as a key source of power and legitimacy for the regime of the Soviet Union
Putin has increasingly used the Russian military to project Russia's strength abroad

Federal Security Service

manages domestic and foreign intelligence and viewed by many as main political actor in Russia alongside Putin
successor to KGB

political efficacy

the sense of an individual citizen that they are capable of effecting desired change in public policy
low efficacy in Russia

Liberal-Democrats

neither liberal nor democratic
nationalist, anti-western, anti-Semetic, xenophobic

media in Russia

under communism, only propaganda tool
today, private media emerges, but since Putin is effectively state-controlled
attacks, arrests, office raids, murders, and threats against journalists

civil society in Russia

certain NGOs are banned from forming
limited religion, such as banning Jehovah's Witnesses
creation of pro-government groups

statism

repeat foreign invasions has developed a culture that deeply values a strong and powerful state that can defend people
civil rights and civil liberties less of a concern

examples of political socialization in Russia

media controlled by Putin/state
Nashi, pro-government youth organization
the government controls textbook content and educational curriculum

social movments in Russia

LGBTQ+ groups have been formed in response to discriminatory laws
women's rights groups to improve domestic violence protections

Alexei Navalny

pro-democracy, anti-Putin/corruption

Gazprom

state-run natural gas monopoly
world's biggest gas exploration and production company

Rosneft

state-owned Russian oil and gas exploration company

foreign policy in Russia

use of military power and other ways to "restore" Russia as a superpower
foreign policy is used as a tool for increasing legitimacy
high patriotism and nationalism
2022 invasion of Ukraine has not gone as planned, hurt Putin's legitimacy

2020 Constitutional referendum

yes-or-no vote on a package of 200 amendments to the Constitution

Russia and the environment

social movements to protect environment have had some success
Russia is dependent on fossil fuels for its economy, which might limit evironment protection