Russia Midterm Essay questions

Soviet Era

🃏 Q: What was the Soviet Union’s political system?
✅ A: One-party Communist rule, centralized power, repression (KGB, show trials).

🃏 Q: What was the planned economy’s main flaw?
✅ A: Inefficiency, shortages, poor quality goods, corruption.

🃏 Q: What was Glasnost?
✅ A: Gorbachev’s policy of openness, allowing criticism of the government.

🃏 Q: What was Perestroika?
✅ A: Gorbachev’s economic reforms to introduce market elements.

Yeltsin & Transition (1991-1999)

🃏 Q: What was Shock Therapy?
✅ A: Rapid transition to capitalism, leading to hyperinflation and poverty.

🃏 Q: What happened in the 1993 Constitutional Crisis?
✅ A: Yeltsin dissolved parliament; military intervened, new constitution created a strong presidency.

🃏 Q: Who were the oligarchs?
✅ A: Wealthy businessmen who acquired state assets during privatization.

🃏 Q: What was the impact of the 1998 financial crisis?
✅ A: Economic collapse, default on debt, widespread poverty.

Putin’s Russia

🃏 Q: How does Putin maintain power?
✅ A: Media control, repression of opposition, nationalist propaganda.

🃏 Q: What is Personalist Autocracy?
✅ A: A system where power is concentrated in one leader without real checks.

🃏 Q: How does Putin use historical memory?
✅ A: Glorifies WWII, promotes patriotism, suppresses alternative narratives.

Ukraine War

🃏 Q: What led to the 2014 Euromaidan protests?
✅ A: Ukraine’s president rejected an EU deal, favoring Russia, sparking mass protests.

🃏 Q: Why did Russia annex Crimea?
✅ A: Claimed historical ties, protecting Russian speakers, securing the Black Sea base.

🃏 Q: Why did Russia’s invasion in 2022 fail to achieve quick victory?
✅ A: Strong Ukrainian resistance, poor planning, Western aid to Ukraine.

🃏 Q: How has the war affected Russia domestically?
✅ A: Censorship, repression, economic decline, conscription of soldiers