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I. Russian Shock and Revival

A. Breakneck Liberalism

  • Rapid privatization creates prosperity, but few and far between

    • Great divide between haves and have nots

    • Forming an oligarchy

  • Prices increased 250%, production decreased 20%

    • Some had a resurgence of pro-communism

  • Corporate corruption led to enormous subsidies (kleptocracy)

    • Tax money → corporations

    • Oligarchs ⇄ gov for money

  • Oligarchs got rich, Russian people drifted into poverty

  • Russia elected first president, Vladimir Putin (2000)

B. Putin’s Managed Democracy

  • Liberal economy policy with authoritarian political rule

  • 9 years of economy expansion and creating a strong middle class

  • Anti-NATO, centralized power, increased military spending

  • Changed constitution to run again, bypassing term restrictions

  • Feb 2014: US helps Ukraine throw out pro-Russian government in Ukraine and Belarus

    • Leads to coup in Ukraine: 14k Russians killed in Ukraine (de-Russify)

    • Provoked Putin…

  • US #3 department of state picked Ukrainian cabinet → Putin invades Crimea

    • Crimea had Russians and helped Russia secure navy stationed in Black Sea

    • Leads to economy sanctions against Russia (except oil)

  • Minsk Accords (2017)

    • Never signed…

  • Russo-Ukrainian War reintegrated Europe???