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Comparative Political Systems Russia Mrs. VanWart

Comparative Political Systems Russia Mrs. VanWart. Official name: The Russian Federation (1991) Capital: Moscow Population: Approx. 145M. Russia. Russia. http://historysshadow.wordpress.com/tag/stalin/. e arly political history Ivan the Terrible 1547 first tsar

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Comparative Political Systems Russia Mrs. VanWart

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  1. Comparative Political SystemsRussiaMrs. VanWart

  2. Official name: The Russian Federation (1991) Capital: Moscow Population: Approx. 145M Russia

  3. Russia http://historysshadow.wordpress.com/tag/stalin/

  4. early political history • Ivan the Terrible 1547 first tsar • Romanov dynasty (1613-1917) --Michael I thru Nicholas II • Peter the Great 1721 --began modernization • Catherine the Great (1762-96) -- “golden age” Russia

  5. Bolshevik Revolution (1917) • March 1917: --Nicholas II abdicates (later assassinated) • --Alexander Kerensky (prov. govt) • Nov 1917: • --Vladimir Lenin & Communists come to power --Soviet Union (USSR) established (1922-1991) Russia

  6. Vladimir Lenin Bolshevik leader 1st Premier of Soviet Union Influenced by Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels Power grab after his death (1924) Russia

  7. Karl Marx “The history of all … society is the history of class struggle” Advocated overthrow of capitalism (socialism, then pure communism) Russia

  8. Joseph Stalin (“man of steel”) • Took power after Lenin’s death (1924) • Eliminated opposition through purges • Modernized USSR; military superpower -- forced collectivization of farms • -- rapid industrialization Russia

  9. Russia

  10. USSR – Post WWII • Controlled much of Eastern Europe • -- installed Communist govts • -- promise of democratic govts not fulfilled • -- “iron curtain” divided east & west Europe • Cold War – tensions with US; no direct fighting (1947-1991) • --US policy of “containment” Russia

  11. “iron curtain” separating Europe (Churchill) Identical zones in Berlin

  12. Soviet Government Structure • 15 republics (by nationality mostly) • -- Russia largest (70% land; 50% people) • -- soviets (councils) • -- “the Kremlin” (Soviet seat of power) “kremlin” = castle, fortress Russia

  13. Soviet Government Structure • Soviet Constitution • -- basic freedoms not guaranteed • -- the state’s interests superseded all Russia

  14. Soviet Government Structure • Legislature • -- Supreme Soviet -- basically “rubber-stamped” Communist decrees Russia

  15. Soviet Government Structure • Communist Party (“CPSU”) • -- one-party rule (1917-1990) • -- Politburo elected by Central Committee -- headed by General Secretary Russia

  16. Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985) • perestroika: “restructuring”(political & economic) • glasnost = “openness” (tolerance of dissent & freedom of expression) Russia

  17. Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985) • Legislature:-elections: competitive, multi-party • Presidency:-new position created (head of state vs. head of party) • CPSU:-lost power by 1990 Russia

  18. Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985) • Reforms (inadvertently) swept Communist govts from power in E. Europe • --Poland 1988 (Solidarity movement) • --Hungary, E.Germany, Czech., Romania, Bulgaria followed • -- “Fall” of Berlin Wall (Nov. 1989) Russia

  19. “death strip” EAST WEST

  20. Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985) • coup attempt (Aug. 1991)-hardliners put MG under house arrest in Crimea; declare themselves in charge-Boris Yeltsin (Pres of Russia) led opposition to coup --support of public, military --MG restored to power Russia

  21. Russia Boris Yeltsin stands atop tank in Red Square

  22. Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985) • Soviet republics declared independence -- signaled collapse of Soviet Union • Gorbachev resigned Dec. 25, 1991 • Yeltsin became 1st President of Russian Federation Russia

  23. Mikhail Gorbachev instituted reforms such as perestroika and glasnost because he believed: a) the USSR should “fall” for its own good, then re-emerge stronger than ever; b) the USSR needed to change its ways in order to survive socially, politically, and economically; c) maintaining control over the Eastern Bloc countries was burdensome to the USSR and this was a way to encourage them to declare independence

  24. Russian Government Today • Constitution of 1993 --includes free housing (low income), medical care, higher education (competitive basis) • 38-3. Able-bodied children over 18 years of age shall take care of disabled parents. Russia

  25. Russian Government Today • Executive Branch • Chief of State: President Vladimir Putin (May 2012) (6-year term; no VP) • --Putin’s 3rd term (non-consecutive) • Head of Govt: Prime Minister Dmitriy Medvedev (appointed by President; confirmed by Duma) Russia

  26. President Putin Prime Minister Medvedev (previously their positions were switched for 6 years)

  27. Russian Government Today • Legislature (“Federal Assembly”) • Council of the Federation (upper house)--178 members (2 x 89 regions) • State Duma (lower house)--450 members (aka “deputies”) • --more powerful • --may be dissolved (a la Br. House of Commons) Russia

  28. Russian Government Today • Judiciary (“Constitutional Court”) • 19 judges-- elected to 12-year terms Russia

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