In-Depth Notes on Russia's Political System and Society

Russia's Governance and Political System

• Government Structure

  • Federal Union of 83 Regions and Republics

  • Semi-Presidential system (President and Prime Minister)

  • Bicameral legislature:

  • Lower house: Duma (controls the majority of power)

  • Upper house: Federation Council

  • Judicial branch includes a constitutional court with judicial review

  • Characterized as an Illiberal Democracy/Authoritarian regime

Geography and Demographics

• Geography

  • Vast territory makes Russia the largest state by area

  • Predominantly populated in the western region; Siberia is sparsely populated

• Demographics

  • Recognizes approximately 200 national and ethnic groups

  • Ethnic composition:

    • Russian 77.7%, Tatar 3.7%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Bashkir 1.1%, Chechen 1%

  • Religious composition:

  • Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2%

  • Age distribution (2023):

  • 0-14 years: 17.51%, 15-64 years: 65.88%, 65+ years: 16.6%

  • Urban population: 74%; Rural population: 26%

  • Population growth is declining at an estimated rate of -0.49% (2024)

Historical Development

• Current Regime

  • Established in 1993 with the Russian Federation, rooted in strong leadership traditions

• Revolution and Communist Rise

  • The 1917 Russian Revolution led to the overthrow of Tsarist rule and the establishment of a communist state

  • Lenin (Bolshevik leader) and Stalin (authoritarian leader) were significant figures, pushing economic policies like command economies and oppression

• Post-Soviet Transition

  • Boris Yeltsin's presidency marked a transition to democracy and capitalism with significant challenges

  • The 1993 Constitution established a three-branch government

  • “Shock Therapy” policy transitioned the economy but led to economic turmoil and the rise of oligarchs

  • Vladimir Putin has sought to centralize power and extend executive authority since 2000

Power Structures

• Federalism and Power Vertical

  • Strengthened control over governmental structures, reducing regional autonomy

  • Created Federal Super-Districts for centralized oversight

  • Political competition is heavily restricted, allowing controlled opposition

• State Institutions

  • Presidential Elections: President directly elected through a two-round majority system, with a six-year term limit reset post-2020

  • Legislative Authority: The State Duma has passing and amending powers, but often functions as a rubber-stamp legislature

  • Judiciary: Weak independence; courts serve the state under 'Rule by Law' rather than true 'Rule of Law'

Military and Foreign Policy

• Military Strategy

  • Strengthened military capabilities under Putin, viewing military power as essential for national legitimacy

  • Recent engagements include actions in Ukraine (2014, 2022) and Syria (2015-present)

• Foreign Relations

  • Tensions with NATO and Western nations, particularly regarding territorial issues in Ukraine

  • Growing ties with China amidst sanctions from the West

Political Culture and Civil Society

• Political Culture

  • Statism: Perception of a powerful state as essential for national security

  • Government viewed as priority over individual rights; civil liberties often suppressed

• Civil Society

  • Restrictive laws affect freedom to protest; unauthorized demonstrations heavily penalized, especially anti-war protests

  • Independent media heavily constrained, with growing government control over information dissemination

Economic Overview

• Economic Transition

  • Shift from a command economy to a market economy through ‘shock therapy’ led to initial economic instability

  • Current state control over major industries, primarily in the energy sector

  • Oil and gas remain pivotal for economic health, with market fluctuations impacting state revenues

  • Recent focus on re-nationalizing key industries to enhance state control and legitimacy

Social Policy and Welfare

• Social Programs

  • Limited social support, focused on pensions and child benefits; often insufficient for the population

  • Healthcare system is state-funded but suffers from underfunding and inequality in service access

Constitutional Reform

• 2020 Constitutional Amendments

  • Key changes included resetting presidential terms and instituting specific cultural values into the Constitution, leading to overwhelming approval in a criticized voting process.

• Public Protests: In the past decade, key issues that have led to protests in Russia include political repression, economic issues, corruption, and human rights violations. Notably, protests have been met with government crackdowns and severe penalties for demonstrators.

• Political System: Russia operates under a dominant-party system, specifically with United Russia holding most political power, which impacts governance by limiting political pluralism and hindering opposition parties.

• Prime Minister vs. President: The President holds substantial power, including control over foreign affairs and the military, while the Prime Minister is responsible for domestic governance and economic management. The President has the authority to appoint the Prime Minister and can influence major policies significantly.

• Civil Society: Restrictions on foreign-funded NGOs in Russia have intensified in recent years, with laws requiring foreign-funded organizations to register as "foreign agents" which hampers their ability to operate freely and receive international funding.

• Media Control: State control over media results in restrictive practices that limit journalistic freedom and affect public discourse, leading to a homogeneous narrative that aligns with government interests.

• Judiciary: The Russian judiciary is often viewed as weak due to its lack of independence from the executive branch, limiting its ability to serve as a check on government power and shield citizens’ rights.

• Economic Policies: The economic transition through "shock therapy" in the 1990s involved rapid privatization and market reforms but led to significant instability and social dislocation, resulting in a reliance on state control of key industries, especially in energy.

• State Duma and Federation Council: The State Duma acts as the lower house and, while it has the power to pass and amend laws, it often serves as a rubber-stamp body for executive proposals. The Federation Council, the upper house, represents regional interests but its influence is limited in practice.

• Elections: Presidential elections in Russia are held through a two-round system; if no candidate wins a majority, a runoff election occurs. However, electoral processes are often criticized for lack of competitiveness and fairness.

• Rentier State Concept: Reliance on resource exports, particularly oil and gas, heavily influences public policy and economic stability, making the government vulnerable to fluctuations in global energy prices.