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Political Evolution in Russia: From Tsarist Rule to the Yeltsin Era

Explore Russia's tumultuous political journey from the Tsarist era to the collapse of the Soviet Union, Yeltsin's presidency, and the ongoing reforms. Learn about key events, leaders, and the country's shift towards a new political landscape.

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Political Evolution in Russia: From Tsarist Rule to the Yeltsin Era

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  1. Politics in Russia Difficult transition from communism

  2. Largest country in the world

  3. Russian population • 142,893,540 (July 2006 estimate) • comparison • larger than that of Japan (127 million) • smaller than that of US (296 million) • 82% Russian • largest minority: Tatars 4% • 72% Orthodox • largest minority: Muslim 6%

  4. Legacies of the tsarist era • A millennium of autocratic rule • hereditary monarchy • not constrained by a constitution

  5. Legacies of the tsarist era • need of governing a vast territory • modernization of military & economic potential • growth of state power • mobilization and unity to defend country • national feeling based on pride • in the greatness of the country • in the strength of its people

  6. Russian Revolution of 1917 • Tsarist regime fell during World War I • Bolshevik revolution in October 1917 • Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870 - 1924) • Communist Party of the Soviet Union • controlled all levels of govt. • nomenklatura • party state

  7. Soviet Union (USSR) • Joseph Stalin • totalitarian regime • centralized political power • industrial and military might • staggering human cost • collectivization • purges • World War II

  8. Stalin’s legacies • rule of personalities (versus rule of law) • succession crisis (versus regular elections) • reliance on military and police • bureaucratic distortions, resistance, and inertia • de-stalinization (1950s & 1960s) • collective leadership • deteriorating economic conditions

  9. Gorbachev • General Secretary of CPSU (85-91) • glasnost: openness in political relations • improve economic well-being • contested elections • law-governed state • private enterprises • informal social associations • concessions to US • revolutions in East Europe in 1989

  10. Collapse of the Soviet Union • Unintended consequence of Gorbachev’s reforms • communist party rule broke down in the 15 soviet republics • ascendance of Boris Yeltsin in elections • elected Russian president in 1991 (57% vote) • outlawed the Communist Party of Soviet Uni. • Gorbachev resigned as president

  11. Yeltsin as president (1991-1999) • Yeltsin demanded extraordinary powers from parliament to cope with the country’s economic problems • power to carry out a program of radical market-oriented reform by presidential decree • named himself acting prime minister • young, Western-oriented government leaders • determined to carry out decisive transformation

  12. Reformers versus opponents • Economic reforms took effect in 1992 • prices skyrocketed (inflation rate 2323%) • political opposition to reform policies • developments in 1993 • Yeltsin dissolved parliament • bombed the parliament • parliamentary election • constitutional referendum

  13. The Yeltsin Constitution of 1993 • Yeltsin called a “presidential republic” • President • is directly elected by voters • can dissolve parliament • can issue decrees

  14. presidential power • head of state • “guarantor of the constitution” • appoint government • choice of prime minister is subject to the approval of parliament • after three refusals to confirm president’s choice, president dissolves State Duma

  15. The Parliament • Federal Assembly • lower house • State Duma • upper house • Federation Council

  16. The Parliament • submission of draft legislation to State Duma • by government • by president • or by members of the Federal Assembly • individually or collectively

  17. Federation Council • Every constituent unit of the federation is represented by 2 representatives • populations of small ethnic-national territories are greatly over-represented • after Putin’s reform in 2000, each governor and each regional legislature is to name a representative to the Federation Council • after 1996, all governors are elected

  18. Legislative process • State Duma => Federation Council => President • if Federation Council rejects a bill • State Duma may override (by 2/3 vote), or • bicameral conciliation commission • if president rejects a bill • State Duma may override (by 2/3 vote), or • bicameral conciliation commission

  19. Limit on presidential power • President can not dissolve parliament • within one year of parliamentary election • if the parliament has filed impeachment against president • if president has declared state of emergency • within 6 months of expiration of president’s term

  20. Limit on presidential power • Impeachment of president • 2/3 majority in State Duma • affirmation by the Supreme Court • rule by the Constitutional Court • 2/3 majority in Federation Council

  21. Constitutional Court • judicial review by the Constitutional Court • 19 members are • nominated by the president • confirmed by the Federation Council

  22. Constitutional Court • empowered to consider the constitutionality of actions of • the president • the parliament • lower level government • ruled on relations • between the 2 chambers • between central and local governments

  23. Russia’s GDP growth rate (%)

  24. Decline and recovery (GDP)

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