goco Russia

• Describe the powers of the president in Russia. Identify any checks on the president's power.

Appoint PM, Cabinet & Governors Issue decrees that have force of law (without legislative review) Dissolve the Duma The President may dissolve the State Duma if it either expresses no confidence in the Government of Russia or rejects his proposed candidate for the Russian Prime Minister three times. Has not been exercised Call state of emergency/impose martial law Call referendums Suspend actions of other state organs President can be impeached BUT... Involves two houses of legislative body, the Supreme Court, and the Constitutional Court

o What is the legislature's relationship to the other branches?

weak check on executive

• Explain how Asymmetric Federalism differs from Federalism and why Russia has this form of federalism

.Federal system...but Asymmetric Federalism 85 regions/federal subjects (subnational units) (Republic of Crimea & federal city of Sevastopol are disputed) These subjects have equal representation—two delegates each—in the Federation Council. However, they differ in the degree of autonomy they enjoy 21 are ethnically non-Russian by majority (republics) Republics differ from other federal subjects in that they have the right to establish their own official language and have their own constitution Krais (territories) and Oblasts (provinces), aren't explicitly given this right Some subnational units in the federal system have greater or lesser powers than others Movements for independence always a threat - Chechnya To deal with ethnic/regional cleavages; an attempt to keep them from seeking independence Republics have the right to establish their own official language and have their own constitution

• Describe the events that led to the end of the USSR and the creation of the Russian Federation

Aug 1991, "conservatives" (opposed to reform) led a coup d'etat to remove Gorbachev Failed! Stopped by protesters led by a more radical reformer, Boris Yeltsin (the elected president of the Russian Republic of the USSR) Gorbachev restored to power but by Dec 1991, 11 republics declared their independence

What is the difference between the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court

Constitutional Court 19 members, appointed by President, approved by Federation Council Judicial review BUT...Court tries not to confront Presidency Current status of independence from executive is questionable Resolves conflicts regarding constitutionality of federal/regional laws & jurisdictional disputes between institutions Pres, 1/5 of either house, citizens may request court to look at case Putin moved constitutional court St. Petersburg - away from Moscow Supreme Court Final court of appeals in criminal/civil cases Does NOT have power of judicial review

• How is the president elected? What is 2nd round voting? How many years is a president's term? Term limits ?

Directly elected - majority/2 round model 2 round system, must receive 50+% of vote, if not, top two candidates face off in 2 nd round Six year term* Six year term started in 2012 (before that 4 year term) Limit of two consecutive terms

Identify the lower house. How are members selected? What is its role?

Duma - Lower House 450 Deputies (only about 13% women) Russian politics is primarily the domain of male elites Workers and Women are both underrepresented Selected by Proportional Representation (party list)* (changed in 2007 from mixed; NOTE: Changed back to Mixed in 2016 elections!) 5 year terms** Changed from 4 year terms in 2011 Representatives are immune from criminal prosecution Powers Passes bills Approves budget Confirms president's appointments

• Explain the policies of Yeltsin, including Shock Therapy, and describe the effects of these policies.

Effects of Shock Therapy: High inflation (1354% in 1992) in 1990s GDP declined: Agricultural and industrial production declined Capital flight: Money invested outside of country Money laundering Mafia Rise of Oligarchs - Shock Therapy - rapid, radical, market reform Loosened or lifted price and wage controls Spontaneous Privatization (late 1980s - early 1990s): managers or bureaucrats made firms private without a legal basis Privatization Vouchers Worth about $10, (November 1992) given to each Russian to invest in companies Insider Privatization Majority of shares owned by firm's employees Rise of Oligarchs & corruption

• Identify the type of legislature found in Russia. Identify the upper house. How are members selected? What is its role?

Federation Council - Upper House Represents regions 2 members from each of 85 federal subunits 1 chosen by governor of each region, other by regional legislature* (but remember...who appoints governors??) Was originally made of governors Powers Mostly delay bills (Duma overrides with 2/3 vote) Approve presidential appointees and presidential decrees relating to martial law and states emergencies May change boundaries among republics, ratify use of armed forces outside country, and appoint & remove judges

• Explain goals of Gorbachev's policies, including glasnost and perestroika and evaluate their success/failure.

Glasnost - political "Openness" Allowed more open discussion of issues Opened door for revolt by some republics Perestroika - Economic Reform Transfer of economic powers from govt to private hands and market economy

Identify the current head of state and head of government in Russia. What are their titles?

Head of State - President Vladimir PutinHead of Gov't - The Prime Minister Dmitri

• Explain why political parties have been unstable in Russia.

Historically unstable...why? Put together quickly after Revolution of 1991 Most formed around particular leader(s) 1995 - 43 parties on the ballot, by 1999 only 26 Hard to develop loyalties 2007: Smaller parties with regional support lost representation Only 4 parties gained seats No strong opposing political parties to dominating party

• Explain the role of the Communist Party starting with Stalin, including nomenklatura, the Central Committee, the Politburo and the General Secretary.

Placed Communist Party at center of control Allowed no other political parties to compete Leaders identified through nomenklatura Process of party members selecting promising recruits from lower levels Central Committee - group of 300 party leaders that met twice a year Politburo - above the central committee, elite of the party. Lead policymaking organization in Soviet Union General Secretary - head of the Politburo, assumed full power as dictator of the country

• Evaluate the extent of rule of law in Russia. What role does corruption play?

Putin initiated law reform - jury trials Procedural codes for criminal and civil rights BUT... Movement toward rule of law continues to be blocked by corruption Security police continue to operate autonomously Trials of oligarchs indicate courts still under political control of Putin "Innocent until proven guilty" is still not a reality

Identify social cleavages in Russia. Classify them as coinciding or cross-cutting.

nationality coinciding religion social class urban/rural

• Define Presidential/Parliamentary system (Semi-Presidential). o What features does it have in common with a presidential system? A parliamentary system?

o Presidential: There's a president (duh!) that's directly elected (fixed election cycle) President may veto Duma legislation President may be impeached Parliamentary: PM is head of gov't Votes of No Confidence

• Describe current major public policy issues in Russia today. o How do they reflect either fragmentation or integration/globalization?

perestroika reforms This consisted of market economy programs inserted into the traditional centralized state ownership design of the Soviet Union These were never fully implemented because of the Soviet Union dissolved The big question about the economy is how should the economy be handled Yeltsin's "shock therapy" was terrible as it created chaotic conditions that were hard for new entrepreneurs to deal with

• How is the prime minister chosen? What are the PM's powers? Identify any checks on the PM's powers (including vote of no confidence).

president appoints the pm, can be removed with 2 repeat votes of no confidence within 3 months

• What is unique about Russian geography?

Largest successor state of the Soviet Union Largest country in the world (area) 17,098,242 sq mi Spans 11 time zones Largest European country in population 140 million Population was steadily declining after fall of USSR until 2009, but might be on the upswing now, although most question whether that trend will continue 73% live in urban areas Critical location Between Europe, Islamic World and Asia

• Describe Marxism and explain how Marxism-Leninism (Soviet-style communism) is different, including the role of vanguardism and democratic centralism.

Lenin saw the need for a strong leader/group to begin the revolution...and then continue as a strong state Whereas Marx saw the state as a feature of class society that would be used by a politically-conscious working class to bring about the transfer of power and then be abolished, Lenin saw the state as a permanent and vital part of what he perceived as socialism, and the state had to be strengthened. Vanguardism Group of revolutionary leaders provoked revolution in (non-capitalist) Russia Grows into a "vanguard party" Political party that claims to operate in the "true" interests of the group/class that it represents, even if this understanding doesn't correspond to the expressed interests of the group itself Democratic centralism Mandated a hierarchical party structure in which leaders are elected from below, but strict discipline is required in implementing party decisions once they are made

• Describe Stalinism and identify attempts to "de-Stalinize."

Media censorship/state control of arts Party authoritative source of truth Estimated 5% of population (millions of were executed for "treason" Attempts at De-Stalinization Nikita Khrushchev led process of reforms Rejected terror as political control Loosened censorship Restructured collective farms

• Describe how Putin has weakened regional authority and has centralized power.

Military crushed Chechen resistance Power Vertical & Creation of Super-Districts Power Vertical: Putin term to describe a unified and hierarchical structure of executive power ranging from the Nat'l to local level Super-Districts 7 new federal districts - encompass all of Russia Headed by presidential appointee Supervises the local authorities as Putin sees fit Purpose is to ensure compliance with federal laws & constitution Appointment of Governors Ended direct election of regional governors Nominated by pres, confirmed by regional legislatures Removal of Governors Pres. may remove a governor who refuses to subject local law to Nat'l constitution Changes in Federation Council Governors now appoint one and regional legislature the other

o What is the Judiciary's relationship to the other branches?

No independent judiciary existed under the old Soviet Union - courts/judges served as pawns of the Communist party

• Describe the role of oligarchs, mafia, and the media in Russia.

Oligarchs Wealthy elite that monopolized industries after privatization At one point controlled over 1⁄2 of Russian GNP Oil industry, media Backed Yeltsin, but Putin now resisting their control Ex: Mikhail Khodorkovsky (Yukos Oil) Chief executive officer and major shareholder of the giant Russian oil company, Yukos 2003 - was placed under arrest for fraud and tax evasion May 2005 - sentenced to nine years in prison Dec 2013 - pardoned and released from prison - many believe it was an attempt to get Western approval leading up to 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia Mafia Controls underworld crime/black market and some reputable businesses Gained power after Revolution of 1991

• Analyze the role of Russian youth groups. Why were they created? What do critics say?

Part of an effort to build a following of loyal, patriotic, young people (diffuse youthful resistance) Critics say Nashi is a modern version of Komsomol, youth wing of the Communist Party of Soviet Union

• Analyze the ability of civil society to flourish in Russia. Identify obstacles.

Registration, reporting requirements, gov't supervision The gov't has placed severe restrictions on groups activities, esp. on groups that are openly critical of gov't policies Investigate sources of income, making registration difficult, police harassment Since Putin's reelection in 2012, new laws restricting nonprofits: restrict foreign financing, and require them to register as "foreign agents"; definition of "high treason" has been expanded to include assisting foreign organizations

o What type of electoral system is used in Russia for the State Duma. How has it changed in recent years?

Selected by Proportional Representation (party list)* (changed in 2007 from mixed; NOTE: Changed back to Mixed in 2016 elections!)

• Analyze the Russian Constitution of 1993. Are there any parts of the constitution that have not been "upheld" under Putin? • Explain why Russia is considered to be an illiberal democracy.

Semi-authoritarian A political system in which elements of democracy are integrated into an otherwise authoritarian system

Explain key components of Russian political culture. What role has history played in shaping this culture?

Slavophile vs. Westerner Slavophile: Nationalism Defense of Russian interests/Slavic culture Strong military Reject western values Against integration Westerner: Reformers Want integration Open to western values

• Describe the status of the military in Russia

Source of Soviet strength during Cold War Under Russian Federation historically weak and not a force Showed some signs of strengthening (Georgia) Importance has been elevated with invasion of Ukraine

• Describe the role of each of the following: United Russia, Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Liberal Democratic, A Just Russia

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) Formed from Communist party of Soviet Union Strongest opposition party to United Russia Less reformist than other parties Emphasizes centralized planning and nationalism Implies intention to regain territories lost when USSR broke apart Supported by older Russians, economically disadvantaged and rural residents A Just Russia Formed in 2006 - merger (Motherland People's Patriotic Union/Party of Pensioners/Party of Life) Led by Speaker of Federation Council Sergei Mironov Left of United Russia Opposition in name only Supported Presidents Putin and Medvedev "We are the party of the working man" Liberal Democratic Party Misnomer! Vladimir Zhirinovsky - extreme nationalist Anti-Western Nuclear threats against Japan, anti-Semitic, sexist Strongest support from working-class men and military

• Describe the role of collectivization and 5 year plans in the Soviet Union.

Took land from peasants and created state run collective farms. Set goals for production of heavy industry (oil, steel, electricity)

Identify the current type of party system in Russia.

United Russia Founded in April 2001 as merger of Fatherland All-Russia Party & Unity Party of Russia Hard to define ideology - Pro Putin Centrist, conservative, pragmatic Opposed to radicalism State direction of economy Catchall/Umbrella party

o What impact do they have on the economic development of Russia?

• In 2004, the economy showed strong indications of recovery, with annually growth of 7 percent • The standard of living has risen, although real incomes improved much more rapidly in neighboring countries • The Russian economy is fueled by huge oil and gas reserves and the corporations that own them • In 2014, the price of oil fell and the ruble lost about half its value Oil prices stabilized in 2015, but still too low for economic recovery Inflation has jumped and wages have fallen • There is also still tension between the idea of privatization and state control • Under Putin, there has been a push to reemphasize a state-capitalist model • The government plays a huge role in the economy and has monopolies in oil (Rosneft), natural gas (Gazprom), and weapons/warfare systems (Russian Technologies). • Critics say that government control of these industries hinder competition