Russia

Political CultureMatt Vela

Per: 3

Informal & Formal Methods to political socialization

A) Soviet Regime: Prevailing doctrine = Marxist ideology

Soviets spent a lot of effort to emphasize the value of loyalty to the Soviet state.

Propaganda emphasized each person was part of a global working class to overthrow capitalism.

Textbooks glorified ordinary communist figures for their struggle against capitalist “masters”.

Propaganda like thisJUMPED out

at YOU!!!

Informal & Formal Methods to political socialization

Schools accessible to all, and there was emphasis on the sciences, and early engineering programs

Family values = Soviet family values -Dictated anyway to raise a family in order to prepare it for a socially useful activity

Religion virtually non-influential: Atheist state: 1928-1939 Secular state: 1945 – Fall of USSR

Informal & Formal Methods to political socialization

B) Post Soviet Russia: Prevailing doctrine = Russian Nationalism

Textbooks now replaced with rhetoric stressing national commitment and community.

2ndary school education has fixed courses, but generally more lenient than Soviet schools

Family values = personal family values Make decisions in the collective spirit

Religion is ethnic based

Government influence on socialization

Soviet era (past): During Soviet Era, anything that could be Soviet

controlled was Soviet controlled. Controlled school curricula, media, popular

culture, political education, religious institutions, interest groups, etc.

Though voting wasn’t mandatory, it was de facto enforced.

Government influence on socialization

Soviet schools: Highly centralized system with 3 levels (4 yr, 7 yr, and 9yr terms)

1. Elementary schools = beginning level education

2. Secondary schools = mandatory after completing elementary level

3. Higher schools = universities, and other institutes (including military academy)

Other institutions: PTU’s & Tekhnikums!!!

Government influence on socialization

Post Soviet Era (present): Some controls on: School curricula, media,

popular culture, political education, glasnost, former institutions from the soviet regime, etc.

Russian education: 11 year secondary education is mandatory, Elementary (1-4), Middle (5-9), Senior (10-11)

Voting in Russia is democratic (though arguably it is said that they’re still not entirely fair)

Views and Changes in the electorate

Gorbachev’s reforms brought about competitive elections in Soviet Russia

Experienced elder generation has better views on the former Soviet Union than the younger generation. (They lived in it).

Elder generation has lower levels of education, thus aren’t as prone to cosmopolitan ideals. (Not as supportive of the current political system.)

The electorate

All citizens are allowed to vote in Russia. Russians value highly the right to vote, and turn out in

high numbers. (Nearly 60% in most recent presidential election)

Skeptical on how they influence the political system. People also value the right not to participate in politics.

(Given that they were forced to during the Soviet regime.)

The electorate

Religion is historically an unbreakable part of the Russian state. Roman Orthodoxy dominating most of the state.

Though repressed during communism, the reestablishment of the church has encouraged more people to be willing to participate in politics as a result.

Additional effects on political socialization

A) Russian Orthodoxy and other sects Most Russians identify themselves as Russian

Orthodoxy, despite sizeable percentage of other sects.

Historically, Tsar = Spiritual & Political leader => Communist regime banned religion Yeltsin’s reforms encouraged reestablishment of

Orthodox church (symbolic break w/communism)

Additional effects on political socialization

B) Democratization The fall of Communism has enabled more

individual autonomies => more involvement (since more choice).

Preferable in most reasons because of increased economic standard of living (no desire to change).

Some nostalgia in Russia to restore the Soviet regime because of organization/unity, but majority prefer democratization.

Additional effects on political socialization

C) Globalization & economic questions Russia’s commitments have been to maintain

closer relationships w/Western Nations (U.S. included)

Leaders view close ties as strategic for Russia’s future.

Transition from communism => capitalism Opposed by those who maintained monopolies on

government productions (the privileged). Utilized “shock therapy” to reform nation