Russia AP Comp Gov Terms

Illiberal Democracy

A governing system in which, although elections take place, citizens are cut off from knowledge about the activities of those who exercise real power because of the lack of civil liberties and transparent institutions.

Kievan Rus

A loose federation of East Slavic and Finno-Ugric peoples in Europe from the late 9th to the mid-13th century, forming the historical foundation for modern Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Golden Horde

The Mongol khanate established in the 13th century that ruled over Russia for over two centuries, instilling an autocratic tradition and isolating Russia from the European Renaissance.

Oprichniki

A secret police force established by Ivan the Terrible to suppress opposition and crush the power of the boyars.

Tsar

An absolute monarch or emperor who ruled Russia prior to the 1917 revolutions.

Boyars

The landowning noble aristocracy of imperial Russia who traditionally held political power beneath the Tsar.

Enlightened Despots

Absolute rulers (such as Catherine the Great) who pursued legal, administrative, and educational reforms inspired by the Enlightenment without relinquishing supreme royal authority.

1905 Russian Revolution

A wave of mass political and social unrest across the Russian Empire that forced Tsar Nicholas II to issue the October Manifesto and create the Duma.

February Revolution

The 1917 uprising that resulted in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, ending centuries of Romanov rule and establishing a temporary Provisional Government.

October Revolution

The 1917 Bolshevik-led armed insurrection, headed by Vladimir Lenin, that overthrew the Provisional Government and established Soviet power.

Bolsheviks

A radical faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party led by Lenin that seized power during the October Revolution and established the Communist Party.

Marxism-Leninism

The adapted communist ideology combining Karl Marx's theories with Vladimir Lenin's concepts of imperialist analysis, vanguardism, and democratic centralism.

Vanguardism

The Leninist principle that a small, highly organized group of professional revolutionaries must lead the working class toward socialist revolution and governance.

Soviets

Local workers', soldiers', and peasants' councils that served as political bodies during the Russian revolutionary period and later formed the nominal basis of the USSR government.

Democratic Centralism

The organizational principle of communist parties where policy choices are open for internal debate until a decision is made, after which all members must strictly obey the decision.

Nomenklatura

The system of patronage and official lists of key administrative and political positions filled exclusively by individuals approved by the Communist Party.

Politburo

The supreme executive body and ruling council of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Collectivization

The Soviet economic policy under Stalin that forcibly consolidated individual peasant farms into large state-run collective farms (kolkhozes).

Five Year Plan

State-directed economic plans setting centralized national production goals and quotas to industrialize the Soviet Union rapidly.

Joseph Stalin

The autocratic leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until 1953 who implemented forced industrialization, collectivization, totalitarian control, and massive purges.

Nikita Khrushchev

The Soviet leader who succeeded Stalin, initiated "De-Stalinization," and led during key Cold War crises such as the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Mikhail Gorbachev

The final General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union who instituted reform policies (Glasnost, Perestroika, Democratization) leading to the USSR's dissolution.

Glasnost

Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of "openness," encouraging greater political transparency, freedom of expression, and public criticism of state institutions.

Democratization

Gorbachev's political reform effort to introduce competitive multi-candidate elections for Soviet representative bodies.

Perestroika

Gorbachev's economic restructuring policy aimed at modernizing and introducing limited market elements into the centralized Soviet planned economy.

Boris Yeltsin

The first president of the Russian Federation (1991-1999) who presided over the post-Soviet transition, radical market reforms, and the adoption of the 1993 Constitution.

Shock Therapy

An economic policy of rapid transition from a state-controlled command economy to a free-market system through sudden price deregulation and privatisation.

Constitution of 1993

The current governing document of Russia, established after Yeltsin's standoff with parliament, which created a strong executive branch and a semi-presidential system.

Insider Privatization

The process by which state enterprise managers and politically connected figures bought former state property at drastically undervalued prices during post-Soviet reforms.

Vladimir Putin

The primary political figure in Russia since 1999, serving as President and Prime Minister, who centralized state control and oversaw the transition to a hybrid regime.

Hybrid Regime

A political system combining democratic mechanisms (such as holding elections) with authoritarian practices (such as repressing political opponents and controlling media).

Kremlin

The historic fortified complex in Moscow serving as the official executive seat of government and the symbol of Russian state power.

Asymmetric Federalism

A federal system in which power is unevenly divided between regions, with certain federal subjects enjoying more autonomy or privileges than others.

Power Vertical

Vladimir Putin's policy of centralizing state power by subordinating regional executives and subnational officials under direct federal authority.

Decrees

Binding legal regulations issued directly by the Russian President that hold the force of law without prior approval from the Duma.

Semi-Presidential System

A system of government featuring both a directly elected President (head of state) and a Prime Minister (head of government) appointed with legislative approval.

Duma

The lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly, responsible for introducing and passing legislative bills.

Mixed Elections

An electoral system combining single-member district (SMD) candidate races with party-list proportional representation (PR) seats.

Federation Council

The upper house of the Russian Federal Assembly, consisting of two representatives from each federal subject (one from the regional executive and one from the legislature).

State Corporatism

A system in which the state creates, recognizes, and regulates official interest groups to control societal demands and limit independent political activism.

United Russia

The dominant "party of power" in Russia, closely tied to Vladimir Putin and holding a consistent majority in the Duma.

Communist Party

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), the successor to the CPSU and traditionally the largest official opposition party in Russia.

Liberal Democratic Party

The LDPR, a right-wing populist and ultra-nationalist political party in Russia led for decades by Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

Oligarchs

Wealthy business titans who accumulated vast assets during post-Soviet privatization and wielded significant economic and political influence.

Russian Mafia

A collective term for organized crime networks operating in post-Soviet Russia, exerting heavy control over illegal markets and shadowy corporate sectors.

Constitutional Court

The highest judicial authority in Russia tasked with constitutional review and deciding whether laws comply with the Constitution.

Federal Security Service (FSB)

The chief domestic security agency of the Russian Federation, successor to the Soviet-era KGB.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky

A former Russian oil tycoon and oligarch who was imprisoned after opposing Vladimir Putin and funding opposition politics.

Chechnya

A predominantly Muslim republic in the North Caucasus region of Russia that fought two brutal wars for independence against Moscow in the 1990s and 2000s.

Russian Orthodox

The primary traditional Christian denomination in Russia, closely aligned with state power to promote national identity and traditional social values.

Statism

A strong cultural and political tradition favoring a prominent, controlling state role in directing economic and social life over individual rights.

Collectivist

A cultural orientation emphasizing community, social group cohesion, and state obligations over personal individualism.

Slavophile

A historical and cultural stance asserting that Russia's unique Slavic customs and Eastern Orthodox traditions make it superior to or distinct from Western civilization.

Russia of the Future

An unformed opposition political movement led by Alexei Navalny opposing state corruption and advocating for democratic reform.

Alexei Navalny

The primary political opposition leader, anti-corruption activist, and critic of Vladimir Putin who died in a Russian prison colony in 2024.

Pussy Riot

A feminist, anti-establishment punk rock art collective known for public protest performances criticizing Russian political and religious elites.

Ukraine Conflict

The military aggression and geopolitical crisis stemming from Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Caucasus

A mountainous, culturally diverse region in Southwestern Russia and neighboring states marked by historical conflict and ethnic tension.

Russian Foreign Agent Law

A legislation requiring organizations and individuals receiving foreign funding or influence to register as "foreign agents," used to restrict independent media and NGOs.

Cheka

The first Soviet state security and secret police organization, established under Lenin in 1917 to suppress political dissent and counter-revolution.

Commonwealth of Independent States

The CIS, a regional intergovernmental association formed by former Soviet republics following the collapse of the USSR.

Siloviki

Politicians and officials drawn from security, intelligence, military, or law enforcement backgrounds who occupy key government and business leadership roles.