Russia Citizens, Society, and the State. Cleavages: greatly impact policymaking Nationality –80% Russian –Tatars –Ukrainians –Armenians – Chuvashes –Bashkis.
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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
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