Russian Federation

1. Russian Federation Karen Escarcha, Harini Reddy, Sophie Eiger, Andy Brightman

3. A History of Russia 1917-Present

5. Civil War 1917-1921 • The Russian Revolution began in 1917 in which the unpopular Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown and a provisional government was put in place. The Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir I. Lenin overthrew the provisional government, and sparked a bloody four year civil war between the Whites who supported a democratic republic, and the Reds who supported a Communist regime. Finally after four years the Reds won and set up communist government that later merged with other countries to form the Soviet Union

6. Lenin 1921-1927 • The country was led by Lenin in which he somewhat backed away from a hard line communist stance, and began to privatize some industries known as the New Economic Policy (NEP), but with the death of Lenin he ideas of a mixed economy died with him 

7. Stalin 1927-53 • His reign by far was the most brutal of any period in Russia's history. He abandoned Lenin's ideas of a mixed economy and adopted a policy of a total state economy, and prescribing 5 year planning of the economy with a focus on heavy industry. The country in became increasingly regressive in the 1930's in which Stalin executed in estimates 30 million people.

8.  Khrushchev 1953-64 • Began a period known as Destalinization where he denounced the policies of Stalin and began liberalize some domestic policies, but continued the growing ideological battle between the Soviet Union and the United States

9. Brezhnev 1964-82 • Brought back Stalinization in which Brezhnev began reinstitute Stalin's policies, but also brought relief in some major tensions between the US and the USSR. Also provide over an 11 year war with Afghanistan

11. Gorbachev 1985-91 • Mikhail Gorbachev became the first party leader that as not at one time part of Stalin's regime he put in place the policies of glasnost and perestroika new policies of political, social, and economic openness to western. This coupled with the inherent weakness of the Soviet Union led to the collapse of the control of satellite countries and eventually the USSR itself in 1991

13. Yeltsin 1991-2000  • As Russia's first president his biggest accomplishment was getting the people to successfully resist a intended coup of Mikhail Gorbachev. He oversaw the chaotic transformation away from communism, but many reforms were poorly planned and ineffective leading to massive corruption.

14. Putin 2000-08 • Yeltsin's handpicked successor was Vladimir Putin who was elected in 2000. He wanted to restore regional power without damaging western relations. During Putin's presidency he oversaw a transform of major industries go back in the government's hands, and the lessoning of media freedoms. Finally political parties became deeply fragmented leading to Putin's overwhelming reelection in 2004.

16. Fun Fact Time! • During the time of Peter the Great, what were Russian men taxed for? • Having a beard

17. Sovereignty, Authority and Power

18. Sovereignty, Gov. Authority, and Power • Sovereignty, though its meanings have varied across history, also has a core meaning, supreme authority within a territory. • Government Authority is the authority within a region • Political power is the ability to shape and control the political behavior of others and to lead and guide their behavior in the direction desired by the person, group, or institution.

19. History of ideologies in the history of political power in the world: • Absolutism • Complete centralizationofpower into the hands of oneleader.  These leaders have few, if any restraints on what they can do within their borders.  • In Russia under Peter the Great in the late 17th - early 18th centuries. • Reaction to this form of government was often violent, many times resulting in revolutions seeking greater political, social, and economic freedoms.

20. History of ideologies continued • Enlightenment • The Enlightenment developed as an extension of the Scientific Revolution.  During the Scientific Revolution, Europeans discarded traditional beliefs and began using reason to explain the world around them. While the Scientific Revolution focused on the physical world, the Enlightenment attempted to explain the purpose of government, and describe the best form of it.  • However Russia, eschewed most of the Enlightenment ideas because of its nature to disregard Western ideas

21. History of ideologies in the history of political power in the world (cont.): • Enlightenment (cont.) • In Russia, Catherine the Great introduced reforms.  She enacted laws for religioustoleration and freeeducation, and also sought the advice of nobles and peasants in the running of government. However, these reforms seldom outlived the monarchs who had enacted them. • Communism • Marx and Engels believed their theory to be based on scientific principals and the study of history.  They state that human life has consisted of a  struggle between the people who have economic wealth, and those who do not.  • Communist revolutions occurred throughout as a result of this ideology.  Most notably, Russia became a communist states replacing long standing monarchies. 

22. History of ideologies in the history of political power in the world (cont.): • Fascism • Totalitarianrule that is imperialistic, nationalistic, and anti-communist.  • Fascism appeared in Italy and Germany after World War I as both countries struggled with political and economic ruin. BenitoMussolini in Italy and AdolfHitler in Germany used this new ideology to gain power and control over their countries.  • In the end, only the combined strength of the UnitedStates, GreatBritain, and the SovietUnion, were able to defeat the Fascists.

23. History of ideologies in the history of political power in the world (cont.): • Modern Democracy • Russia experienced with this form of government resorting eventually to a liberal democracy. • defend and increase civil liberties against the encroachment of governments, institutions and powerful forces in society • restrict or regulate government intervention in political, economic and moral matters affecting the citizenry • increase the scope for religious, political and intellectual freedom of citizens • question the demands made by vested interest groups seeking special privileges • develop a society open to talent and which rewards citizens on merit, rather than on rank, privilege or status • frame rules that maximize the well-being of all or most citizens

24. Importance of Pol. Culture • Political culture may be defined as the political psychology of a country or nation (or subgroup thereof). • Political culture facilitate democratic politics and governmental performance • The importance of political culture is that the beliefs shared by the people of the country is important in maintain unity. If there are differences in opinion, instability is sure to arise.

25. Importance of Socialization • To convert or adapt to the needs of society. • To place under government or group ownership or control.

26. Scope of Gov. • The Russian government plays a big role in their economy as they privatize everything and everything is state-owned. • Needs to diversify the economy further, as energy and other raw materials still dominate Russian exports • World's largest exporter of natural gas and the world's second-largest oil exporter • Does anyone know who is number one?

27. Interesting Fact: • In 2004 the number of abortions (1.6 million) exceeded the number of live births (1.5 million), continuing a trend of the early 2000s.

28. Political Institutions

29. Federation • Consists of: • 89 sub-national jurisdictions classified as republics, oblasts (provinces), autonomous oblasts, autonomous regions, and territories • 21 republics, 49 oblasts (provinces), 6 territories, 10 autonomous regions, one autonomous oblast, and two cities (Moscow and St. Petersburg) with separate oblast statuses

30. Constitution • Adopted on December 12th, 1993 • States: • Government is composed of 3 branches  • Describes government's purpose • Outlines the rights and responsibilities  of citizens • In Reality: • Executive Branch is extremely powerful • Nomenklatura system in place • If ones file is favorable enough, his or her name was placed on a nomenklatura list. • People were selected from these lists for important jobs within the party or government

31. Differences Presidential Parliamentary • Difficult to • Abuse power • Act quickly and coherently because checks are necessary • Prime Minister • Rarely needs to compromise quick and decisive actions

33. Executive Branch • President • Elections: • 4 year term, 2 consecutive term limit • Obtain one million signatures • Two-ballot system • If after the first election no candidate receives a majority of the votes, the top two candidates have a run off 2 weeks later • Similar Election Process as in France • Very difficult for the Duma to impeach the President

34. President • Holds powers similar to those held by the U.S. President • Veto power • Head of Armed Forces and Security Council •  May dissolve the government, call referendums, and issue decrees

35. President • Authority to appoint a wide variety of government officials  • i.e. Prime Minister, Cabinet Members • The houses of the bicameral legislative branch have offered only weak opposition because of their constitutional position and because effective opposition parties do not exist

36. Legislative Branch • Federal Assembly is bicameral • The Upper House = The Federal Council • 178 members • 2 seats per jurisdiction • The Lower House = The State Duma • 450 members • Half the seats are selected in single member districts • Whoever gets the most votes • Half chosen on a proportional party-list basis • Parties who win at least 5% of nation wide votes • Election process for both is similar that of Germany 

37. Legislative Branch • 4 year term • The Federation Council • Delays the passage of legislation • Power has diminished since members have become presidential appointees •  The State Duma • Fun fact: Deputies scream each other, walk outs and fist fights are common • Approves Presidential appointment

38. Judicial Branch • Similar to U.S. Federal Court System, however it is much weaker • Composed of: • Constitutional Court • Supreme Court • Supreme Court of Arbitration • Justices serve for life and are appointed by the President

39. Judicial Branch • Constitutional Court (19 member) • Passes judgments on compliance with the federal law and the Constitution • Settles jurisdictional disputes between state bodies • Supreme Court (23 member) • Rules on matters of civil, criminal, and adminstrative law • Superior Court for Arbitration • Settles commercial disputes

41. Regional and Local Governments • A governor heads each oblast, each republic, the Moscow region, and the St. Petersburg region • Municipal and oblast legislatures are unicameral bodies • Conflict often occurs between power of the central and regional governments • Power not clearly clarified by Constitution • No judicial power or precedent to clarify

42. Suffrage • Universal 18 years of age

43. Political Parties and Interest Groups • Political Parties • After living under a one-party rule, many Russians are wary to join political organizations • Only 22% of Russians identify themselves with a party • Little continuity exists  • Interest Groups • Also weak • Less independent of the state • Cumbersome registration procedures deny legal status of many groups

46. Bureaucracy • Many members of the bureaucracy were from the previous Communist System because they have the necessary government experience • Federal Security Bureau (FSB) replaced the KGB • KompromatCompromising material that the FSB contains about officials

47. Oligarchs • Incredibly rich and powerful • They own businesses controlling most natural resources, industrial production, and media

48. Military • Not actively involved in politics  • However man fear the military's future involvement

49. Fun Fact Time! • Russia has the largest number of what form of entertainment? • Movie Theaters

50. Citizens, Society, and the State of Russia