Putinism

1. Putinism

2. “I want a guy like Putin” – a Russian pop song, 2004: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9gqQnAvYn4&feature=related

3. In 1989-91, Russia experienced a democratic revolution – and democracy began to suffer soon afterwards • The leaders of the new Russian state, which emerged from the ruins of the USSR, • wanted capitalism more than democracy • They were deeply unsure of their ability to keep power while they plundered the public assets of the Soviet state • Democracy worked for them to the extent that it enabled them to dismantle the Soviet system • But it became a threat to their interests once they began to rule • Since 1993, they steadily moved to limit and undermine Russian democracy – all the while declaring their commitment to it • By the 2000s, the idea of democracy was discredited

4. 1999 • The end of Russia’s Liberal Decade • Results • A highly inefficient model of capitalism • A badly damaged, fragmented society • A disorganized state privatized by the bureaucrats • Extreme insecurity: • Of the state • Of the elites • Of society

5. Real possibility of a regime collapse • And of a state collapse • Political opposition to the Yeltsin regime was gaining momentum, real chance to take power through 1999-2000 elections • The Second Chechen War becomes the turning point • Spread of insurgency beyond Chechnya – to Dagestan • Putin is appointed Prime Minister • Offers wartime leadership • Appeals to the Russian battle order

6. The political turnaround • Consolidation of elites behind Putin: • the Kremlin (the Family) • key groups of the business elite, • bureaucracy, • the army • the security services • give him support as the figure seemingly capable of “saving Russia” from a catastrophe • Parliamentary election of 1999 – the new “party of power” representing this coalition wins a plurality of seats in the parliament • December 31, 1999 – Yeltsin resigns, appoints Putin Acting President • Presidential election of 2000 – Putin is elected President

7. Putin’s gains from Global War on Terror • Put Chechnya in a global context favorable to Moscow • US and Russia fighting the same enemy • America got bogged down in Iraq, which reduced its capacity to advance on Russia’s interests • Russia’s opposition to the Iraq war improved Russia’s standing in the Muslim world • Oil prices surged, driving Russian economic recovery

10. Rebuilding “the vertical of power” • Reduce the influence of the oligarchs on media and politics • Reduce the power of regional leaders (governors, presidents of Russia’s republics) • Increase the power and role of siloviki (the Enforcers) in the Russian state • “KGB Inc.”, “Neo-nobility”

11. Putin’s “Neo-Nobles”: KGB, Inc.

12. Igor Sechin

13. Sergei Ivanov

14. Nikolai Patrushev

15. Sergei Lebedev

16. Viktor Cherkesov

17. Alexander Fradkov

18. Alexander Bastrykin

19. Rashid Nurgaliyev

20. Sergei Shoigu

21. Vladimir Ustinov

23. Putin’s Neoliberals

24. Anatoly Chubais

25. Anatoly Medvedev

26. Alexei Kudrin

27. Mikhail Kasyanov

28. Andrei Illarionov

29. The Kremlin vs. the oligarchs • No populist drive to sack the oligarchs – and they have continued to prosper • But their influence on the state has been significantly reduced • Stick and carrot • The Kremlin now controls “commanding heights”: big business is allowed to function at the discretion of the top political authority – no challenges to the Kremlin are allowed • Redistribution of property

30. Putin’s Oligarchs

31. Roman Abramovich

32. Sergej Pugachev

33. Mikhail Fridman

34. Oleg Deripaska

35. Gennady Timchenko

36. Market authoritarianism • Economic policy: continued neoliberal reforms, with some modifications • Politics: restoration of state capacity through centralization of political authority and increase of state control over society • Under Putin, the Kremlin regained part of the power it had lost since Gorbachev’s reforms

37. Vladislav Surkov, Presidential adviser

38. The President vs. regional governments • In 2000 - creation of 7 presidential districts to incorporate the 89 regions of Russia • Since 2004 – top regional executives (governors, republic presidents, etc.) are no longer elected by voters. They are appointed by the President and confirmed by regional legislatures

39. Ramzan Kadyrov, President of Chechnya

41. Chechnya now boasts one of the biggest mosques in Europe

43. 331 died, mostly children

45. One of the suicide bombers who blew up Moscow subway stations in March 2010, killing 37 people – with her boyfriend

46. The President vs. the parliament • Legacy of Yeltsin: an overwhelming Presidency • Under Putin, the growth of the “party of power” (United Russia) put the parliament under firm control of the Kremlin • The upper chamber (Federation Council) is no longer composed of elected representatives

47. Boris Gryzlov, Speaker of the State Duma (lower house of Parliament)

48. Sergei Mironov, Speaker of “the Senate”

49. Elections • Eliminating the mixed proportional-majoritarian system in favour of proportional representation only • Raising the threshold of party representation (6% of the total) • Use of “the administrative resources” • Control of the media

50. Vladimir Churov, Chairman of the Federal Electoral Commission