Russia [SLIDE BASED]

INTRO SLIDES:

Putin & the Russian media:

  • Internet censorship in the country is increasing.

  • Principal TV channels are state-controlled (such as RT and RIA Novosti).

  • Social networks are mostly free.

  • Russia is a dangerous place for journalists working independently from the government.

    • Journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot dead in 2006 after years of activism against Putin.

Putin & Russia democracy:

  • Jailed his main political opposition: Alexei Navalny

    • Navalny survived an assassination attempt in 2020, was flown to Berlin to recover, and return to Moscow in 2021 only to be detained.

    • FSB agent revealed that he had been instructed to clear Novichok, an extremely toxic Russian chemical, all over Navalny’s underwear. History will remember Putin as nothing more than an “underpants poisoner.”

    • As of August 2023, Navalny was sentenced to an additional 19 years in jail.

  • He has made changes to the Russian constitution.

    • 2020 Russian constitutional referendum/All-Russian vote: Was proposed to the Federal Assembly and including amendments such as allowing Putin to run again for two more six-year presidential terms, constitutionally banning same-sex marriage (alligning with Christian values), ensuring patriotic (nationalistic) education in schools, and placing the constitution above international law.

    • 2012 Foreign agent law: anyone who receives ‘support’ from outside Russia are labeled as foreign agents. Once they are labeled, anything they publish will have a disclaimer before it warns readers. This law has been internationally criticized as it is a tool used to suppress civil society and anyone opposing Putin.

    • New restrictive legislation: fines for public protesting, protests requiring government approval, arrest without trial, etc.

  • GONGOs (government-organized non-governmental organization) and their prevalence in modern Russian society.

    • Nashi (youth movement): formed in 2005 and reportedly supplied with $20m from the Kremlin, what is considered to be Putin’s personal army, has grown exponentially. With approximately 120,000 members, the members typically come from desperately poor areas of the countryside and see Putin as an idol who has brought security and prosperity to Russia. The movement was informally dissolved around 2015. Was created to build a following of young loyal supporters to avoid any youthful resistance in the future.

PART 1 SLIDES:

Pre-Revolution:

  • Led by strong autocrats (pre-1917):

    • Ivan the Terrible

    • Peter the Great

    • Catherine the Great

  • Huge social divisions and economic inequalities

  • WWI devastated Russian society

VLADIMIR LENIN

First and founding head of government of Soviet Russia

In office: 1917-1924

  • War communism: Lenin directed industrialization + agricultural development from a centralized government

    • Government had total control of the economy (confiscation, rationing)

  • New economic plan (1921 - 28): Reversal to capitalism

    • Made a compromise between capitalism and socialism

    • Resulted in more individual freedom, greater overall production → communism is compromised (not good)

  • USSR is formed (1922):

    • No competing ideologies

    • Cheka - regime’s security arm was strengthened + restrictions placed on other political groups.

In 1924, Lenin passed away and hadn’t named a successor beforehand. Should the NEP (New Economic Plan) continue? And who will take over? Finally, they chose Joseph Stalin, who Lenin had previously warned against due to him being ill-mannered, uneducated and power hungry…

JOSEPH STALIN

General Secretary of the Soviet Union

In office: 1924 - 1953

  • Gradually eliminated all oppositions by 1928 - consolidates power

  • Goals: modernize USSR, strengthen the military, one-party state

    • One-party state would be achieved by nomenklatura.

  • The First Five-Year Plan (command economy):

    • Production based on central planning. Targets are set for industries (oil, steel), factories, and workers.

    • Puts a lot of pressure on workers and managers, and increases the temptation to overstate production.

  • Stalinism:

    • Famine in Ukraine - killed more than 6 million people

    • Media censorship + state control of arts

    • About 5% of the population were executed for “treason”

    • 27 million Soviet citizens died in WWII which was led by Stalin.

Stalin dies in 1953 and there is an attempt to ‘de-Stalinize’ the USSR. Reforms are led by Nikita Khrushchev.

NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV

Secretary of the USSR

In office: 1953 - 1964

  • No longer used terror to gain political control

  • Loosened censorship

  • His reforms didn’t actually fix problems

Brezhnev partially reversed Khrushchev’s reforms.

LENOID BREZHNEV

General Secretary of the USSR

In office: 1964 - 1982

  • Tightened controls - people who expressed dissenting views were harassed, arrested, or exiled.

  • In contrast to the Stalinist period, political repression was predictable.

  • Economic stagnation crippled standard of living - consumer goods unavailable.

Brezhnev passed in 1982.

MIKHAIL GORBACHEV

Last leader of the USSR before it dissolved

In office: 1985 - 1991

  • Wanted to adapt the system to new conditions

  • His 3 main goals:

    • Glasnost - political “openness” and transperancy. It allowed for more open discussions of affairs and opened door for revolt.

    • Democratization - creation of Congress of People’s Deputies.

    • Perestroika - economic reform. Economic power was transferred from government to private hands.

Russian Federation held its first ever election after the USSR was dissolved, and Boris Yeltsin became the first official President.

BORIS YELTSIN

First President of the Russian Federation

In office: 1991 - 1999

  • His goal:

    • Create a western-style democracy - established the constitution of 1993 (3 branch government)

  • Shock therapy - rapid, radical, market reform

    • loosened/lifted price and wage control

    • Insider privatization

  • Rise of oligarchs + corruption (money laundering)

  • High inflation rates (1354% in 1992)

  • GDP declined

Yelstin’s frequent illnesses alcoholism led to his resignation, and his position being passed on to then-PM Vladimir Putin.

VLADIMIR PUTIN

Present day President of Russia

In office: 1999 - 2008 (1st & 2nd terms)

2012 - present (3rd & 4th terms)

  • 2000 election: Putin is elected

    • Served 2 terms (4 years each) and stepped down BUT…

  • 2008 election: Dmitry Medvedev became president (served 1 term) while Putin was PM.

  • 2012 election: Putin won and started a 6 year term

  • 2018 election: Putin won again

  • 2020 - Constitutional amends are made that may allow him to stay in office until 2036.

  • Stalin appears to Putin in a dream and says: “I have two bits of advice for you: kill off all your opponents and paint the Kremlin blue.” Putin asks, “Why blue?” Stalin: "I knew you would not object to the first one."

Oligarchs:

  • Wealthy elite that monopolized industries all over the country post-privatization: oil industry, media, etc.

  • At one point, oligarchs even controlled over ½ of the Russian GNP.

  • Originally, oligarchs backed Yeltsin, but now Putin is resisting their control.

MIKHAIL KHODORKOVSKY

  • Chief executive officer and major shareholder of the giant oil company, Yukos.

  • Was the richest man in Russia around 2003.

  • 2003 - placed under arrest for fraud and tax evasion

  • 2005 - sentenced up to 9 years

  • 2013 - pardoned and released from prison

    • Many believe it was to get Western/international approval upon the 2014 Winter Olympics Russia was hosting.

What is a rentier state?

A country that receives an income by selling, exporting, or leasing out a natural resource to foreign countries. Within the AP6 examples of this are Nigeria, Iran, and (somewhat) Russia.

Disadvantages of being a rentier state:

  • Lack of economic diversification

  • Price fluctuations due to the dependence on the international market

  • Higher chance of extreme income inequality

  • Increased opportunities for corruption by the state.

PART 2 SLIDES:

The political culture in

The UK

Russia

is shaped by…

  • Tradition, custom

    • Monarchy, the Crown

  • Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights

  • British Empire during the 19th, 20th centuries

  • Oldest democracy in the world

  • Evolution, not revolution (gradualism)

  • Brexit, need to regain state sovereignty

  • Geography, not apart of continental Europe

  • Nationalism (2014 annexation of Crimea)

  • Long monarchial history, dynasty of tsars

  • Russian Revolution

  • Militarism

  • Communism

  • The State over the individual

What is civil society like?

  • Home to many NGOs with national and global agencies (Oxfarm, Save the Children)

  • QUANGOs

  • Allows very few protests

  • 2012 law incriminalizing protests that are not pre-approved by the government

  • Weak secularism - Russian Orthodox church plays significant role in society

    • 2016 anti-terrorism law restricts public missionary work by some religions

    • 2013 Gay Propaganda law

Legislative Executive system: Semi-Presidential

Legislature: Federal Assembly

Lower House: State Duma

Electoral system of Lower House: Mixed System

Upper House: Federation Council

Electoral system of Upper House: Appointed by local executive and legislature

Chief Judicial Body: Constitutional Court

Unitary of Federal division of power: Federal (asymmetric)

  • The only AP6 state that is identified as all 3: hybrid, competitive authoritarian regime, and illiberal democracy.

  • 1993 Democratic Constitution

  • “Soft authoritarianism”

Semi-Presidential

  • President is directly elected (fixed election cycle)

  • Can veto Duma legislation

  • May be impeached

  • Prime Minister is the Head of Government

  • Parliament can issue a vote of no confidence

Presidential Powers:

  • Appoint PM, cabinet, and governors

  • Chairs State Council

  • Dissolve the Duma

  • Call state of emergency

  • Call referendums

Prime Minister:

  • Head of Government → Mikhail Mishustin (former head of tax)

  • Appointed by President, no fixed term

  • Can be removed with 2 repeat votes of no confidence within 3 months

State Council & Security Council

State Council:

  • Advisory body to the Head of State

  • Established by Putin in 2000

  • Focus on development of governmental institutions, economic and social reforms and other factors that affect the public.

Security Council:

  • Created in 1992 - consultative body of the President

  • Specialize in assisting the President on decisions regarding national security.

  • Composed of top state officials and heads of defence and security agencies.

Bicameral Legislature

Duma - Lower House:

  • 450 deputies

  • Selected by mixed elections (MMD and SMD) for 5 year terms

    • Changed in the 2011 elections (used to be 4 year terms)

  • 225 deputies by majority voting/225 proportional results

  • Have the power to pass bills and approve budgets

The State Duma does have its limitations such as the powers being limited, especially since the Duma’s attempts to reject PMs in the past have failed. And although they have the power to impeach the President, its a long process that involves both houses of the legislature, the Supreme Court, and the Constitutional Court.

  • Women and workers are quite underrepresented in the Duma.

  • Unique PR with 7% threshold until 2016

  • Representatives are granted immunity from criminal prosecution.

Federation Council - Upper House:

  • Represents regions

  • 2 members from each federal subunit - 170 seats

  • 1 chosen by governor of each region, and the other by regional legislature

  • No formal political parties - all independents

  • Have the power to delay bills, approve presidential decrees, change boundaries, appoint and remove judges.

Judicial System

Constitutional Court:

  • 19 members that are appointed by the President

  • Have judicial review BUT the court tries not to confront the President.

  • Resolve conflicts regarding constitutionality of federal/regional laws or judicial disputes.

  • Moved to St. Petersburg by Putin - away from Moscow.

Supreme Court:

  • Final court of appeal in criminal/civil cases.

  • Does NOT have the power of judicial review

Rule of law since they have procedural codes for criminal and civil rights. However, the movement towards rule of law is becoming harder due to corruption: the security police continue autonomous operation.

Electoral System:

President - directly elected with a majority vote (since 1996)

Duma - experienced multiple changes in electoral structure since 1990

POLITICAL PARTIES:

United Russia

Founded in April 2001 as a merger of Fatherland All-Russia Party and Unity Party of Russia, and as of now, are the dominant party in the country. They don’t have a defined ideology however they can be categorized as Pro-Putin.

  • Centrist

  • Conservative

  • Pragmatic

  • Opposed to radicalism

Communist Party of the Russian Federation

Formed from the Communist party of the Soviet Union, and are the strongest opposition party to United Russia. Their main supporters are older Russians, the economically disadvantaged, and rural residents.

  • Less reformist than other parties

  • Emphasize central planning and nationalism

A Just Russia

Formed in 2006, and like United Russia, is a merge between the Motherland People’s Patriotic Union, Party of Pensioners, and Party of Life. Led by the speaker of the Federation Council: Sergei Mironov.

  • Supports Putin and Medvedev

  • “We are the party of the working man”

  • Left of United Russia

Liberal Democratic Party of Russia

Was lead by Vladimir Zhirinovksy from its inception in 1992 until his death in 2022. Majority of their supporters consist of working-class men and military.

  • Ultranationalist

  • Anti-western

  • Nuclear threats against Japan

  • Anti-semetic

  • Sexist

Russian United Democratic Party (Yabloko)

A liberal and social-liberal party founded by former Soviet Deputy PM Grigory Yavlinsky, and is currently led by Nikolay Rybakov. In 2016, they won less than 2% of the vote and hold only a few regional legislative seats.

  • Social market economy

  • Fair competition in politics and the economy

  • Equal opportunity

  • Pro-Western and Pro-European

PART 3 SLIDES:

Demographics:

  • Compared to other developed countries, Russia has a shockingly low life expectancy (70 years) due to the alcoholism among men.

  • Low fertility rate

  • High abortion rates

  • High levels of female participation in the workforce

Nationality and Ethnic Groups:

  • Biggest social cleavage is nationality.

    • 80% of the population is Russian while the rest are:

    • Tatar = 3.8% (Muslim)

    • Ukrainian = 2%

    • Bashkir = 1.2%

    • Chuvash = 1.1%

    • Other = 12.1%

  • Coinciding cleavage is religion.

    • The USSR prohibited religious practices of any kind so most people lost all religious affiliations during the 20th century.

    • Religious minorities: Muslims, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish

    • There has been a rapid rise in the Muslim population in Russia, specifically in the Caucasus.

    • Russia has more Muslims than any other European country other than Turkey.

    • 2013 Crackdown on Radical Islamists - Before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the police arrested 300 Muslims in Moscow who were found with extremist literature and considered a threat.

    • 2005 Belsan School Hostage Crisis

  • Another social cleavage is class.

    • The disparity between the nobility vs peasants was very evident in Tsarist Russia.

    • USSR abolished class, BUT created a new division between members/non members of the communist party (nomenklatura).

    • In the late 1990s and early 2000s, small middle class was growing in large cities.

    • Older and rural people remained poor, but general prosperity trickled down.

    • Now 73% live in cities and have a higher likelihood of good education and are far more in touch with Western values/culture.

CHECHNYA:

Why is it important?

  • Primarily a Muslim region

  • Contains many oil fields

  • Has fought for independence - the Kremlin knows that if they are successful and gain it, other independence movements will break out.

  • Common terrorist attacks from this region

POLITICAL PROTESTS:

  1. 2007 restriction of public protests

This law allows only INDIVIDUALS to picket, and that only if there is at least a 50 meter gap between the protesters. Additionally, the protests can not disrupt daily life. There is a list of places where mass action is forbidden and any action taken with more than 100 people must be authorized beforehand.

  1. 2012 arrest of punk rock band Pussy Riot

Punk rock band Pussy Riot was arrested on the 21st of Feb 2012 for performing a song titled “Punk Prayer” which protested the Orthodox church’s support of Putin in the upcoming election.