Russia

Citizens, Society, and the State

Cleavages: greatly impact policymaking

• Nationality– 80% Russian– Tatars– Ukrainians– Armenians– Chuvashes – Bashkis– Byelorussians – Moldavians

Nationality

• Federation with autonomous regions• Independence v. trade • Chechnya

– Muslim state– Wants independence – Terrorist attacks: Belsan school– Concern for Gov’t: how?– referendum was held to cote on a new constitution for

Chechnya • Approved…but did not grant independence

Religion

• Tsarist rule– Russian Orthodox

• Soviet Union– Prohibited practice of

religion

• Yeltsin– Encouraged Russian

Orthodox church to reestablish itself

• Today:– Mix of people

Religion

• 2007– Russian Church

abroad reunites with ROC

– Putin meet with RCA • Encouraged them to

return

– Moscow still retained ultimate authority

• Other religions are represented (see chart page 112)

Rise of the Muslim population

• Moscow: migrant laborers

• Caucasus: hot spot for trouble– Chechens– Biggest issue for Putin

• Bashkortostan and Tatarstan: work with Putin– Help with diplomatic

missions to Middle East

Social Class

• Members of the Communist party v. nonmembers

• 7% were party members– Political leaders – Economic favors– Egalitarian and

nomenklatura

• Today more egalitarian

Social Class

• Entrepreneur Class– 1997 bust– Yeltsin’s contribution – Sponsored Putin??– Now under fire for

alleged illegal activities • Vladimir Gusinsky • Boris Berezovsky• Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Rural v. Urban

• Industrialization – 73% Russians live in

urban areas– Well educated – Western culture

• Divide is great • Unclear affects on

political climate

Beliefs and Attitudes

• Mistrust of the Government– Support democratic ideals – Do not trust gov’t to convert

ideas – Low level of participation

• Interest groups, trade unions

– Putin is the exception• Others do not share this

popularity

Beliefs and Attitudes

• Statism– Take an active role in

lives– Subjects v.

participants – Disappointment in

progress

• Economic beliefs– Market transition

• Rapid: privatization and limited government regulation

• Westernization – Slavophile vs. westernizer

• “Good old days”

Beliefs and Attitudes

Political Participation

• Soviet Era – Mandatory– Candidates chosen for

you

• Since 1991– Duma

• 1993: 50.3%• 2003: 56%

– Presidential• 1991: 75%• 2004: 65%

Civil Society

• Undeveloped– Most do not belong to a

group

• 1980’s slowly emerged – Many groups formed to

express views• Environment

• Ethnicity

• Gender

• Human rights

• Health care

• Gov’t restrictions

Youth groups

• Effort to build a:– Loyal following – Patriotic young people – Defuse possible

rebellion

• Nashi– “transmission belt”

Linkage institutions: Parties

• United Russia– Founded 2001 – Boris Berezovsky– 2000:

• Supported Putin

– 2003• 221 Duma Seats

– 2004 • Putin won 74% of vote

for president• No competition

Linkage Institution: Parties

• The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF)– 2nd largest

• Re-incarnation of the Communist Party of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic– Formed in 1990 as an anti-

perestroika organization within CPSU and suspended by Yeltsin for support of August 1991 coup in 1991

Linkage institutions: Parties

• Reformist Parties – Yabloko – United of Right Forces

• Fair Russia• In jeopardy of

disappearing

Linkage institutions: Parties

• Most controversial • Vladimir Zhirinovsky

– Use of nuclear weapons

– Anti Semitic– Sexist

• 2003:– 37 seats in Duma

Elections: Supports three types

• Referendum– National ballot on a policy or issue

• Constitution 1993• Chechnya 2003

• Duma Elections – 450 seats– Two rounds

• Presidential Elections– Two round model (unless you capture a majority the

first round)

Interest Groups

• Oligarchy– Corruption: determining elections– Putin v. Oligarchs

• State Corporatism – Est. vast companies– Too independent or too rich (insider privation)

• Russian Mafia– Controls underground crime– “protection money”; money laundering; deals with gov’t – Murdered: bankers, journalists, businessmen, members of Duma

• The Russian Media– Privately owned – Gov’t regulations

Institution of Government

• Head of Government (President)– Dominates the prime

Minister – Direct election by voters (4

year terms)

• Powers:– Appoint Prime Minister and

cabinet – Issue decrees that have

the force of law– Dissolve Duma

• Head of State (Prime Minister)– If president dies Prime

Minister takes over – Usually career bureaucrats – Chosen because of

expertise; loyalty to president

• 450: ½ from proportional representation; ½ from single member districts

• Powers:– Pass bills– Approves budget– Confirms the presidents political appointments– Limited by president:; rule by decree

Institution of Government: Duma

Institution of Government: Duma

• Federation Council– 89 members – Selected by the

governor of each region

– Power to delay legislation

• May be override by 2/3 vote in Duma

• Judiciary– Constitutional Court

• 19 members appointed by president and confirmed by Federation Council

– Supreme Court • Serve as final court of

appeal in criminal and civil cases