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The nation of RUSSIA TODAY

The nation of RUSSIA TODAY. Comparative Government Presentation By Brian Godfrey. Understanding Geography. Largest Country on Earth. Many different ethnicities . Russian Federation = regional/state powers.

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The nation of RUSSIA TODAY

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  1. The nation ofRUSSIATODAY Comparative Government Presentation By Brian Godfrey

  2. Understanding Geography • Largest Country on Earth. • Many different ethnicities. • Russian Federation = regional/state powers. • Very few warm water ports. Especially during winter, ice makes navigation difficult or impossible. Historically, Russia has aimed to conquer countries that have blocked Russian access to the sea. • Many natural resources- including oil, gas, and timber. Geography Continued…

  3. Political Map & Neighboring Countries

  4. Ethnicities – Russia and Surrounding Areas

  5. Understanding Oil and Gas - The EU imports almost half of its natural gas and 30% of its oil from Russia.

  6. Legitimacy • Historically, based on strong autocratic rule (tsars all the way to dictators) • Under communist rule, Marxism-Leninism provided the legitimacy base for the party, with its ideology of democratic centralism- rule by few for the benefit of many • Today, the Constitution of 1993 represents a Western-style system of legitimacy

  7. Historical Influences on Political Traditions • Absolute, Centralized Rule- From tsars to Soviets. Necessary to protect against Huns, Vikings, Mongols. • Extensive cultural heterogeneity-changing border in a vast area=many ethnicities. • Slavophile v. Westernizer- “lover of Slavs.” Distinctly different culture from that of mainly Western Europe. • Revoultions of the 20th century- Lenin’s Bolsheviks seized power in 1917 and communism begins. In 1991, U.S.S.R. dissolves in a second revolution, and democracy begins.

  8. Political Culture • Russia’s political culture has been shaped by its geographic setting, cultural orientation, and confliction attitudes toward the state. • Geographic Setting • Eastern Orthodoxy • Equality of Result (contrasted to Equality of Opportunity) • Skepticism about Power • Importance of Nationality Also Lack of Democratic Values, Generational Issues, And not a lot of experience with democracy

  9. Russian Federation- 1991-Present • The Constitution of 1993 created a 3-branch Gov’t, with a President, Prime Minister, lower legislature called the Duma, and a Constitutional Court. • Yeltsin, the first President of Russia, brought about reforms, but was somewhat ineffective due to conflicts with the Duma, alcoholism, and persistent illness. He resigned before the 2000 election, making then-Prime Minister Vladmir Putin the new President. Putin Continued…

  10. VLADMIR PUTIN • Many believe he has retreated significantly from the commitments that Yeltsin made for a democratic system. • Resigned as President at the end of 2nd term, but by remaining as Prime Minister, there is little doubt he still controls considerable influence in Russia.

  11. Dmitri Medvedev- President 2008 - Present • United Russia Party • Won with more than 70% of the vote in 2008, as did Putin in 2004.

  12. Cleavages Nationality: 80% are Russians- Also Tatars, Ukrainians, Armenians, Chuvashes, Bashkis, Byelorussians, Moldavians. • Consequently, Russia has “autonomous regions” whose borders are based on ethnicity. • The region of Chechnya, primarily Muslim, has fought for years for freedom.

  13. Cleavages Cont. Religion • Tsarist Russia all ‘Russian Orthodox’ • U.S.S.R. prohibited religious practices • Yeltsin encouraged reestablishment of Russian Orthodox Church • Today, very few citizens attend Russian Orthodox services—a legacy of Soviet Rule. • No clear conflict between religious v. nonreligious today • Also Catholics, Jews, Protestants • Rapid rise in Islam!

  14. Cleavages Cont. Social Class • Classes Substantially destroyed during Soviet Era • There was formerly a cleavage between communist party members and non-members. • Russia is still today more egalitarian • Today, a new socio-economic class of entrepreneurs is developing: newly wealthy Russians.

  15. Cleavages Cont. Rural / Urban conflict • About 73% of all Russians live in cities • City dwellers more likely to be educated and in touch with western culture, and generally are better off financially

  16. BELIEFS AND ATTITUDES • Mistrust of Government- Low levels of participation in interest groups, unions, etc.! Although there is a high level of approval for Putin, most Russian officials have considerably low popularity. • Statism- Russian citizens still expect the state to take an active role in their lives. • Economic beliefs- Most Russians support economic reform. However, the divide between rapid / significant privatization and reform is wide. • Westernization- Divided concept. Some favor nationalism and a conservative state, while others favor reform and “Westernization” (integration into int’l world & trade).

  17. Political Participation • During Soviet Era: voting near 100% because it was forced. • With 2008 economic crisis: there is much dissatisfaction with current gov’t (as in the U.S.) • Since 1991 voter turnout rates in Russia have been higher than the United States! • Turnout in presidential election of 2008 was almost 70%.

  18. Civil Society • Other than voting, political participation is low. • Relatively undeveloped civil society • Only about 1% report belonging to a party. Few attend church, clubs, charitable org’s, etc. • Since Gorbachev’s glasnost, civil society has been allowed to emerge, albeit slowly. • Soviets used state corporatist approach.

  19. Political Institutions • Current parties, elections, and institutions of gov’t are all new, fluid, and likely to change. (Russia only since 1990’s!) Though gov’t and politics are beginning to settle in. • Russia is a Federation with strong central power • 89 Regions, 21 are ethnically non-Russian by majority • Some regions are much stronger than others, so power is devolved unequally across the country, a condition called asymmetric federalism.

  20. Parties • United Russia (pro-Putin) • The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) • Liberal Democrats • Fair Russia • Yabloko (reformist) • Union of Right Forces (reformist) Duma Elections of 2007…

  21. Duma Legislature Elections of 2007 • United Russia- 315 Seats, 70% of seats. • Communist Party- 57 Seats, 12.7% of seats. • Liberal Dems- 40 Seats, 8.9% • Fair Russia- 38 Seats, 8.4% • All other parties- 0 Seats

  22. Elections • Referendum • Duma Elections • Presidential Elections

  23. Interest Groups & State Corporatism • Much of Russia’s megawealthy control the country, they are the Oligarchy. Through various means they control/own media outlets, newspapers, politicians, etc. They have considerable influence in Russian policymaking. • Putin has resisted the Oligarchy somewhat: in 2003 Mikhail Khodorvsky, the richest man in Russia, CEO of Yukos Oil Company, was arrested. Continued on next slide…

  24. Interest Groups & State Corporatism • Medvedev was Chairman of Gazprom (natural gas) before President of Russia. Gazprom is mostly controlled by Russian Gov’t. • Under Putin’s leadership state corporatism has become well established. • State-owned automobile, aircraft, shipbuilding, nuclear power, diamonds, and other industries • Either gov’t controlled companies or Putin-loyal companies are the beneficiaries- This is an arrangement known as insider privatization. • Russian Mafia = large and in charge!

  25. The President and Prime Minister • Head of State (Prez) Head of Gov’t (PM) • While Putin President, the position became substantially more dominant. • Now that Putin is PM, the relationship is changing again. Continued…

  26. President has the Power to: • Appoint the Prime Minister and cabinet • Issue decrees that have the force of law • Dissolve the Duma VERY STRONG EXECUTIVE

  27. Legislature • Weak check on Executive Power • Lower house, Duma – 450 by proportional representation. Very weak body. • Upper house, Federation Council – 2 members of each of 89 federal units (like our Senate) mainly has the power to delay legislation.

  28. Judiciary • Constitutional Court • 19 Members, appointed by President • Didn’t cross Putin • Many attorneys were trained under Soviet rule, meaning a lack of expertise makes carrying out the responsibilities of Constitution difficult

  29. Economy • Issue: how much of the centralized planning economy should be eliminated, and how should the market economy be handled? • Between 1997 and 2007 Russian economy steadily improved, but suffered when oil prices plummeted in 2008. • Today Russia’s economy fueled by its huge oil and gas reserves, by mostly state run/owned corporations. • Medvedev is aiming to diversify economy and improve infrastructure, innovation, investment, etc.

  30. THE END

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