Russia Review
historically, Russia's international identity can be described as...
uncertain as to whether it was part of Europe
who are some of the individuals who have challenged Putin's power and policies and have then died mysteriously or been murdered with no leads?
-Anna Politkovskaya [2006] -Boris Berezhovsky [2013] -Aleksandr Litvinenko [2006] -Boris Nemtsov [2015] -Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova [2009] -Sergei Magnitsky [2009] -Natalia Estemirova [2009]
what were sites of Islamic extremist attacks from Chechen rebels?
-Beslan -Moscow movie theatre -Domodedovo airport -Moscow subway
what statements are true about Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin?
-Gorbachev was opposed to Yeltsin's candidacy for president of the Russian republic -following the attempted coup, Yeltsin suspended CPSU activities in the Russian republic -Gorbachev and Yeltsin both agreed to the introduction of capitalism in the USSR but Yeltsin wanted faster and more sweeping changes -March 1991, power balance shifted from Gorbachev to Yeltsin after Gorbachev assumed special powers, ruling by presidential decree
what are statements made by Karen Dewisha about Putin and Russia? (from the film)
-Russia is an authoritarian state in process of succeeding rather than a democratic state in process of failing -Russians don't want to be democratic -Putin is running a kleptocracy -Russia exhibits a 'pay to play' system where one would pay for a seat in the Duma
what have been countries involved in military conflict with Russia since 2000?
-South Ossetia -Chechnya -Georgia -Ukraine
what parties received seats in the 2016 parliamentary elections to the Duma?
-United Russia -Civic Platform -Rodina -CPRF -LDPR -A Just Russia (NOT Yabloko)
what are nations that may become an area of play for domination between 'Great Game' and 'New Silk Road?'
-Uzbekistan -Tajikistan -Kyrgzstan -Kazakhstan
what statements about the CPSU are true?
-a major feeder organuzation was the Komsomol -membership in the CPSU was probationary, for one year -never more than 10% of the Soviet adult population were CPSU members -members paid 0.5%-3% of their salary to the CPSU in dues
what did Gorbachev's reform programs perestroika and glasnot involve?
-a reconsideration of Soviet history especially the Stalinist era -some use of market mechanisms in the setting economic targets and prices -a relaxation of government censorship -a greater emphasis on the production of heavy industrial goods
in the last dozen years, what reforms has Putin instituted against NGOs to reduce the role/influence of civil society?
-all NGOs must receive prior authorization of the government to operate -numerous foreign-based NGO's have been closed in Russia -if an NGO receives any foreign funds, it must register as a 'foreign agent' -new laws defining treasonous activities deter some NGO activities
what were statements made by Sergei Kalesnikov, a former Russian magnate now in exile in Estonia? (from the film)
-corruption is present everywhere in the Russian government and goes right to the top -you need protection or krisha (roof) to do business in Russia -the more krisha, the more successful your business -businessmen dream about giving presents and gaining protection, and giving a gift to the president is like having God himself watching your back
what is true relative to Marxism-Leninism and dialectical materialism?
-economic relationships between owners and workers will ultimately determine the likelihood of revolution -each state of economic development is negated until communism is achieved -the bourgeoise will exploit the proletariat until it rebels -inconsistency is not a negative, it represents tactical flexibility and the fact that what is false today may be true tomorrow
what are concerns to Putin and Russia?
-expansion of NATO, military alliance formed in opposition to the Soviet Union, to include former Soviet satellites and republics -expansion of the EU to her borders including former satellites and republics -US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq -Syrian civil war with Western allies and Russia on opposite sides (proxy war)
what are powers of the State Duma?
-filing of charges of impeachment against the president -confirming the president's appointment of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) -passing legislation in prescribed areas of responsibility
what are true statements about the reform process in the former USSR?
-forces opposed to the reform process attempted to seize power through a coup but were unsuccessful -difficulties resulting from the reform process weakened the power of the central government -reforms allowed organized religion to play a more significant role in society -the reform process greatly weakened the power of the CPSU
what are true statements about Putin? (from the film)
-he earned a law degree and joined the KGB as a foreign agent at the age of 23 -in 1998 he came the head of the successor organization to the KGB, the FSB -to get himself known in his hometown, he commissioned a documentary of himself, called 'Power' -as deputy mayor he controlled the activities of all foreign companies in the city
what actions from Gorbachev indicted his leadership and ultimately were responsible for his demise?
-he only had political experience in the Stavropol krai; none outside the Russian republic, which made him ill-prepared for the nationalist problems in non-Russian republics -he resisted any indictment of the CPSU event after the aborted 1991 coup -although never popularly elected, he believed he had the mandate of the Russian people to proceed with his changes -he tolerated major opposition at the highest levels of authority
what are reasons why Boris Yeltsin selected Putin as his Prime Minister in 1999?
-he was in failing health and concerned about who might succeed him as president -he feared potential prosecution of The Family and himself for corruption and embezzling of state funds -he appreciated that Putin had demonstrated loyalty and protected Putin's former mentor, Sobchek in a similar situation
what is true about Vladimir Putin?
-he was named by Yeltsin as his successor -he took office as Acting President following Yeltsin's surprise resignation on New Year's Eve -he received 52% of the popular vote in the first round election which meant he did not have to face a runoff
what is true regarding Stalin's rise to power?
-he was not an ethnic Russian -he was Lenin's choice as first General Secretary of the CPSU -he was used by Lenin as a bridge to the nationalities within the Soviet Union -he eliminated top military officers fearing a coup
what is true about Mikhail Khodorkhovsy? (from the film)
-he was the founder and head of Yukos oil, making him a billionaire -Putin had Yukos oil assets frozen and broke up, citing unpaid taxes -wanted Putin to follow European model of democracy and funded opposition parties and promoted democracy -arrested and served 10 years in Siberian prison camp -Yukos was divided up among Putin allies and transferred to state ownership -accused Putin of overseeing a corrupt political state
what is Russia's declining birth rate demographic concern due to?
-high abortion rates resulting from restrictive access to birth control -weakened economic prospects disincentivize desire for large families -high percentage of women in workplace
what were consequences of shock therapy?
-high unemployment -rise of oligarchs and billionaire speculators -gangsterism and rise of Russian mafia -contrast of desperate poverty of average Russian with ostentatious displays of wealth by elites -hyperinflation -loss of pension accounts and difficulty for people on fixed incomes -increased alcoholism (NOT currency stabilization)
what are limitations on the President of Russian Federation's ability to dissolve the Duma?
-if it is within months of the expiration of the president's term -if it is within one year of the election of the Duma -if the Duma has filed impeachment charges against him -if the President has declared a national emergency or imposed martial law
what reforms occurred under the rule of Mikhail Gorbachev?
-increased autonomy for the republics planned -creation of an enhancement of office of President of the Soviet Union -constitutional revisions to strengthen the powers of the elected legislature -de facto reductions in the power of the CPSU
what is true about the Constitutional Court?
-it possesses the power of judicial review -justices must be 25 years of age and possess 5 years of legal experience -cases may be heard on appeal from the President, Federation Council, Duma or 1/5 of the membership of the Federation Council or Duma -it rules on whether or not an impeachment charge, brought by the Duma, may proceed for trial to the Federation Council
what statements are true with regards to the State Duma in 2018?
-threshold for party seats is now 7% of the popular vote -term of office of members is 5 years -majority party is Putin's United Russia party -none of the parties in Duma existed prior to Russia's independence in 1992
what statements are true regarding 'shock therapy?'
-it was an attempt to fully dismantle the centralized, state-controlled economy in a very brief space of time -Russia's GDP has significantly grown in the more than two decades since its initiation in 1992 -the Russian economic advisor was Yegor Gaidar -all prices were deregulated impacting those on fixed incomes the most
what statements are true about Chechnya?
-it was known as a 'breakaway republic' -the war against Chechnya did not have widespread popular support in Russia -the war followed an invasion into Dagestan launched from Chechnya, providing justification for the renewed attack by the Russian military against Chechen rebels -President Aslan Maskhadov erred in failing to control Islamic terrorist activities in Chechnya
what are characteristics/powers of the Federation Council?
-it was not intended as a full time body whereas the lower house legislative body was so intended -it contains 178 seats; 2 for each of the 89 administrative divisions in the Russian federation -it has the power to remove the President of the Russian Federation if impeachment charges are filed by the lower house -the term of office and election process were not contained in the Russian Constitution of 1993 while those for the Duma are
What is true about the Federation Council?
-members cannot initiate legislation in the house but must submit bills through the Duma -it has sole authority to approve/disapprove presidential decrees imposing martial law or state of emergency -it has the final say on presidential impeachment if Duma passes articles of impeachment -along with 2/3 Duma, a vote of 2/3 from Federation Council can override a presidential veto
what are reasons for the failure of the August 1991 coup?
-military failed to storm the Russian White House and silence the opposition to the coup -Edouard Shevardnadze and Boris Yeltsin publicly opposed the coup -coup leaders were disorganized and didn't have the support of the Russian people -Gorbachev refused to give in to the coup leaders, refused to resign his office
what is true with regard to Ethnic and National Identity un the Russian Federation?
-more than 75% of the Russian population is ethnically Russian -no other ethnic group in Russia represents more than 4% of the entire population -whole only 15% of the Russian population is Muslim, it is the dominant religion in many areas if the Caucusus mountains -Russians are ethnically part of the Slavic peoples of Eastern Europe linked by similarities in language, and to a lesser extent, culture and religion
what were problems facing the Russian democracy during its first decade?
-need to educate citizens as to civic responsibility -need to adequately place the military under civilian control -need to stabilize the Russian ruble -need to develop organizations capable of articulating citizen concerns to government institutions
what are major obstacles to the goal of a Russian society in which law (not politics) is primary?
-resistance to the tradition of trial by jury -the signifigant presence of the Russian mafia -former KGB authorities dominate the powerful Federal Security Bureau (FSB) -the power of the president to enact laws by presidential decree
what were major accomplishments of the CPSU?
-technological progress for the Soviet Union -social revolution -development of a strong educational system -strong support of heavy industry
what were constitutional changes (2008) made under Medvedev?
-term of President of Russia changed in 2012 from four to six years -term of State Duma changed with 2011 elections from four to five years
who was included in the institutional opposition to glasnot and demokratizatsiia in the USSR?
-the Communist Party of the Soviet Union -the KGB/state security police -the military -the bureaucracy
what is true regarding the September 1999 apartment bombings? (from the film)
-the Russian government destroyed the entirety of the crime scenes within days, presenting major obstacle to any criminal investigation -the Russian government was looking for a reason to postpone the presidential election to give Putin a needed national image to succeed in the presidential election of 2000 -the Moscow apartment bombings, killing 293 civilians as they slept, injuring more than a thousand, was seen as Russia's 9/11 -Chechnya was blamed by the Russian government and the second Chechen War was begun in retaliation
what are correct statements regarding the apartment complex bombings? (from the film)
-the Ryazin bomb was made of Russian military explosives and detonator -several journalists investigating the possible role of the government in the apartment bombings were murdered -Ryazin bomb had been placed by FSB agents and originally the government claimed it was a training exercise -the government blamed the apartment bombings on Islamic terrorist actions
what is true about the U.S. and Russia/USSR?
-the two nations were allies in both WWI and WWII -the US invaded Russia in an attempt to overthrow the Bolshevik government -the US boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; USSR boycotted the 1984 LA Olympics in retaliation
what statements about President of the Russian Federation before 2008 are true?
-there is a two consecutive term limit -minimum age is 35 years -president must be a Russia citizen with 10 year residency -the term of office was 4 years
what statements about PPOs are true?
-they had numbers of about 400,000+ by 1990 -they were the eyes and ears of the CPSU at a local level -they were formed in workplaces and/or residences -they sent representatives to the raikom and gorkom confrences
what are significant similarities in the Central Asian nations Putin desired to unite in a Eurasian Economic Union?
-they have experienced little progress towards democracy since independence in 1991 -power has largely remained in the hands of Soviet-era leaders -ethnically diverse, they have weak nationalist identities and many have experienced internal conflicts -region contains significant deposits of oil and gas
what are functions of the elections held in the Soviet Union?
-they provided the government with an opportunity to test its ability to mobilize the population -they reaffirmed the political mandate of the Soviet people -they were necessary for the CPSU to claim legitimacy for the Soviet government -they provided an opportunity to further political education and socialization of the Russian people
what is true regarding civil society in the Russian Federation?
-under Yeltsin, civil society flourished with dozens of political parties developing, a free press and numerous NGO's -under Putin, repressive techniques have been used to minimize civil society -liberal activists such as rock group Pussy Riot have been arrested and jailed -all of the major TV stations are now state-owned or state-controlled
what statements about the Snow Revolution protests of 2011-2012 are true?
-white ribbons were the symbol of the protests -protests developed because of widespread concerns of electoral fraud in parliamentary elections -many Russians were expressing opposition to Putin's increasing authoritarian measures -Putin's repression of the media limited their effectiveness
what did Soviet political culture include?
-xenophobia -constant competition and confrontation with the West -strong centralized political authority and fear of chaos
how many republics comprised the former Soviet Union in 1991?
15
what statement about the election process for the Duma is currently true?
450 seats, half by plurality vote SMD, half by party lists vote
who was the first democratically elected leader in 1,000 years of Russian history?
Boris Yeltsin
who was the leader most responsible for shock therapy?
Boris Yeltsin
what body formally selected the General Secretary of the CPSU
Central Committee
what statement about Russia's judiciary and rule of law is true?
Russians are largely unable to rely on the courts to resolve legal disputes
what was the highest policy-making organ of the USSR, under Gorbachev's 1989 constitutional changes?
Congress of People's Deputies
what was the most important single office in the Soviet political system?
General Secretary of the CPSU
how did Lenin's view of revolution differ from that of Marx's?
Lenin believed that a small, highly centralized revolutionary vanguard was necessary to lead the masses
what republic can be held most responsible for the fall of the USSR?
Lithuania
who was the tsar that abdicated in favor of the Provisional Government in 1917?
Nicholas II
what statement about the Government of the Russian Federation is true?
President dissolved the Duma if his nominee for Prime Minister is rejected three times by the Duma
what position is currently the most important in terms of power in Russia according to the Constitution?
President of the Russian Federation
who are the siloviki?
Putin's friends, referred to 'state oligarchs' who have made billions in the economic changes in Russia
what is the major demographic concern of low life expectancy in Russia due to?
abuse of alcohol
what nation was the Orange Revolution centered on, as one of the color revolutions that occurred in the first decade of the 21st century?
Ukraine
what is the Commonwealth of Independent States?
a body used by Russia to retain influence over former Soviet republics
what immediately replaced the rule of the last tsar when he abdicated in 1917?
a republican leadership
why was the election of Vladimir Zhirinovsky and his followers to the Duma in 1993 significant?
because it signaled citizens' disappointment with the results of reform programs and with the decline in Russia's international stature
which institution/group in communist systems has been most resistant to reform?
bureaucracy
what does the concept of parallel hierarchies mean in communist systems?
each level of state authority had a corresponding authority in the communist party
what was the primary source of political socialization in the Soviet Union?
educational system
(t/f) Strategy 31 is the government's new crackdown on opposition groups/protest rallies
false
what is one recent event that raised concerns over Russian foreign policy?
her invention in Ukraine
Russia can be described as an...
illiberal democracy
in which way does Russia's Federation Council differ from the Duma?
it has more responsibility for protecting the letter of the constitution
what is true when comparing the British Prime Minister with the Russian Prime Minister?
neither PM is the official head of state of their nation
what contributed most to the instability of the USSR in the late 1980's?
persistent ethnic and national demands for self-determination
Lenin consolidated the 1917 revolution in part through the nomenklatura who were...
politically influential Communists who were given important jobs in the bureaucracy
what was a prominent feature of the Stalinist political system?
rapid industrialization and collectivization of agriculture
what policy was a governmental priority for Russian reformers in the early 1990's?
rapid transition toward a market economy
what event is most directly related to the coup of the 1991 and ultimately the downfall of the USSR?
scheduled signing of the All-Union Treaty
before Gorbachev's changes in 1989, who was officially the head of the government of the USSR?
the Chairman of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet
what was the lowest level of the CPSU organization?
the PPO
what was the highest policy-making organ in the CPSU?
the Politburo
what was a direct result of the reforms initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980's?
the Soviet government's legitimacy diminished as inefficiency and corruption were publicly acknowledged
who is Vladimir Zhirinovsky?
the founder and current leader of the ultra-right, nationalist party Liberal Democratic Party of Russia
what describes a command economy?
the government makes all fundamental economic decisions about capital investment, prices, wages, and production levels
the apparatchiki
the loyal CPSU top level bureaucrats, found in the Secretariat
among Lenin's contributions to Marxist thought was his emphasis on...
the party as vanguard of revolution
What is the Yabloko party?
the political party which stands for a social market economy and equal opportunity, opposing Yeltsin's policies as unfair and continues to oppose Putin but has been unable to gain seats in the last 3 parliamentary elections
the Soviet practice of 'nomenklatura' refers to...
the process by which communist party controlled appointments to key bureaucratic positions in government and society
in Marxism-Leninism the superstructure is best described as...
the social and political institutions which reflect the economic base
nomeklatura
the top level bureaucrats in the state structure of the USSR who still retain much authority in the the Russian Federation
what is the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia?
the ultra-right, nationalist party in Russia which can be compared to the British National Party in the UK in terms of platform, such as extreme nationalism and anti-immigration
procuracy
the vast network of state attorneys in the USSR and Russia
what argument was made by Lenin?
the working class left on its own will develop revolutionary conciousness
(t/f) Article 31 of the Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of assembly
true
(t/f) Putin-Medvedev have both been restrictive of free media
true
(t/f) failure to comply with an order of an FSB officer or ignoring a warning will get a minimum 15 day jail sentence
true
(t/f) new law in 2010 authorized FSB to issue formal official warnings to individuals about crimes the government believes they might commit against the government/Russian people
true
