Russia

1. Russia Porter Koolman, Riley Saunders, and Megan Wright

2. Political Culture • Shaped by frustration and hostility • Has never had a fully legitimate regime • Elites have disproportionate amount of power • Low voter turnout

3. Economy • Huge problem after the fall of the Soviet Union • Struggle between two groups: • Reformers wanted a sudden and complete shift to a free-market economy • Conservatives wanted a slower, less Western approach • Reformers won and economy was shifted rapidly to a free-market system • Privatization

4. Economy • Many economic crises in 1990s • Since then, there has been some economic growth • Mostly due to high oil prices • However, Russia still isn’t a competitive economy, and there’s little connection between government policies and economic success

5. Supranational Organizations • Member of the UN • Permanent member of the G-8 Summit • Friendly partnership with NATO

6. Constitution • Written • Approved in 1993 • Ended Soviet Union and began Russian Federation • Many institutions not mentioned in the constitution hold more power than those the constitution specifically authorizes

7. Organization of the Regime • Executive: President and Prime Minister/Premier • Currently Medvedev and Putin • Putin holds the most power • Legislative: Parliament • Upper house: Federation Council • 2 members from each republic/region • Has little power other than delaying legislation • Lower house: State Duma • Elected by proportional representation

8. Organization of the Regime • Judicial • Constitutional Court • Supreme Court • Both courts are very politicized • Civil liberties aren’t guaranteed

9. Organization of the Regime • National government worked out a Federation Treaty with some of the republics to share some powers • However, Putin has passed a lot of legislation bringing power back to the federal government

10. Electoral System • Presidential elections held every four years • Candidates run on a first ballot, and if none wins a majority, the top two vote-winners compete on a second ballot • State Duma elections held once every four years

11. Political Parties and Interest Groups • Many inconsistent parties up until 2003 elections, when one party won a clear majority in the Duma • United Russia • Parties that mostly just support current leadership: • Our Home Is Russia, Fatherland-All Russia • Reformed Communist party: • CPRF • Reformist parties: • Yabloko, Union of Right Forces • Liberal Democrats are radical and antidemocratic

12. Oligarchs • Small group of very wealthy Russian businessmen who control much of politics • Donate huge sums of money to certain politicians and can control media • In 1997, seven businessmen controlled over half of Russia’s GNP

13. Role of the Military • Currently doesn’t play a role in determining policy • Very large, but has outdated technology and isn’t much of a risk • Some think the military won’t stay out of politics forever • Unrest and poor economic conditions for soldiers

14. Bibliography • http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-163A2D8C-E795B81A/natolive/topics_50090.htm • http://www.un.org/en/members/#r • Textbook

15. Cleavages (Ideological & Regional) • Reformistssupported by oligarchs • Ex-Communists (lower classes) • Rising Middle Classsupport moderates (United Russia) • Rise of oligarchy after collapse of Soviet-controlled economy • Concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few businessmen • Russia is incredibly ethnically diverse • Poles, Russians, Tatars, Armenians, Ukrainians, Uzbeks, Chechens, Azeris, Kazakhs • Push within former-USSR nations to recreate Soviet Union in “near abroad”ethnic warfare

16. Civil Society & Political Organizations • Civil Society and outstretched government blur; political organizations are often smothered by oppressive government • Civil Society and greater democratic reforms are undercut by negative perception govt (66.4% believe citizens have no role in gov—Source: Adapted from McFaul, et al, Between Dictatorship and Democracy: Russian Post-Communist Reform) • The Armysince Yeltsin coupe, military has taken more active role; operates as political organization • The Churchstrong religious following; wields power indirectly

17. Media The media was released from state control under Gorbachevhas since been put under the thumb of Putin’s administration; biased news source Television is most prominent; often controlled by oligarchs (ORT is most viewed) Control of the media has essentially returned to pre-Gorbachev standards

18. Political Change • There have been numerous attempts at change • Gorbachevglasnost (increase in freedoms) • Yeltsindemocratization • Largely unsuccessful • Changes have been blocked by powerful opposition parties, public disappointment in failed reform measures, general lack of progress • Russia remains largely autocratic, corrupt, but has become more stable under Putinreform has stalled • Most people agree that Russia is nearly as undemocratic as it was under USSR; but greater attempts at economic freedom have been made

19. Economic Change • Russia has seen its economy rise (7% economic growth in 2006, added to G8)fueled by oil, foreign investors • However, Russia still remains incredibly pooravg income: $250/month; 20-30% live in absolute poverty; great economic disparity (most billionaires in the world) • Economy has been floundering since the USSR • Economic Crisis in 1990sbailed out by West • 1 ruble=$5500 (massive inflation) • Government essentially defaulted on massive loans, stock market tumbled, ruble vale fell by two-thirds • Many attempts to fix the economy (connected to democratization) • Gorbachevperestroika (easing of govt regulations) • Yeltsinshock therapy (rapid economic liberalization)

20. Bibliography Central Intelligence Agency. "Russia." CIA World Factbook. N.p., n.d. Web. 30      Nov. 2011. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/      geos/rs.html>. Hauss, Charles. Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges.      Boston: Wadsworth, 2009. Print. McFaul, Michael Russian Federation. Official Website of the Government of the Russian Federation. N.p., 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 30 Nov. 2011.      <http://government.ru/eng/>.

21. RussiaBy: Riley Saunders, Porter Koolman Megan Wright

22. Salient Policy Issues

23. Civil Liberties • Russia has a lack of freedom of speech. Vladimir Putin tries to control the country so that the people will like him. Therefore, he eliminates anything that may shed a dark light on him.

24. Civil War with Chechnya • The Chechnyan people want to separate from the Russian Federation, however Russia does not want them to do this. This caused a civil war between Chechnya and Russia.

25. Environment • Russia has a poor environment. This is partly because Russia doesn’t have any federal regulations on the environment so they don’t use clean sources of energy.

27. Predictions

28. Coming Year • General Ethnic Tension- Will Russia let Chechnya secede? My guess is no. This will make Putin look weak and he wants nothing of that.

29. Coming Decade • Putin is redefining the role of a Prime Minister as he gains more and more power. Where will the Russian stop him if ever?

30. Threats and Success • Russia has lack of personal freedoms and a huge disparity between the wealthy and the poor. • Russia is also sitting on a lot of oil which helps and also they are not apart of the European Union which may crumble is France and Germany withdraw from there and begin using their own currency. • In conclusion, Russia is transitioning between a communist society to a democracy. Russia could turn around and become a huge success or it could crumble and fail. A lot of this is relying on their economy, which hasn’t been doing well.