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Institutions of Russia

Institutions of Russia. VIII. Political Institutions (Federalism or Unitary). Although the Soviet Union was highly centralized, it still maintained a federal government structure

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Institutions of Russia

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  1. Institutions of Russia

  2. VIII. Political Institutions (Federalism or Unitary) • Although the Soviet Union was highly centralized, it still maintained a federal government structure • Russian Federation has retained this model, with the current regime consisting of 89 regions, 21 of which are ethnically non-Russian by majority • Each region is bound by treaty to the Federation, not all have officially signed on (Chechnya) • Most regions are called “republics” • Many republics ruled themselves independently, but Putin has cracked down on this • Putin ended direct election of the 89 regional governors, they are now nominated by the president and confirmed by the regional legislatures

  3. IX. Linkage Institutions • Political Parties • Elections • Interest Groups • Media

  4. Political Parties • Began forming after Revolution of 1991 • Small, factional • Formed around particular leaders • “Bloc of General Andrey Nikolaev and Academician Svyaloslav Fyodorov” • “Yuri Boldyrev Movement” (“Yabloko”) • Formed around particular issues • “Party of Pensioners” • “Agrarian Party of Russia” • “United Civil Front”-Garry Kasparov (focused on opposing the administration of Putin) • “Women of Russia” • Political Parties Today (United Russia, Communist Party, Reform Parties)

  5. United Russia • Founded in April 2001 • Merger between “Fatherland All-Russia” Party and the “United Party of Russia” • United Party put together by oligarch Boris Berezovsky and other entrepreneurs to support Putin in the election of 2000 (later accused of fraud by Putin and lives in England) • Merger put even more political support behind Putin • United Russia won 221 of the 450 Duma seats in 2004 elections • Putin won re-election in 2004 as the United Russia candidate • United Russia is hard to define other than that it is pro-Putin

  6. Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) • Communist Party of the old Soviet Union (CPSU) • After 1995 elections held 157 of the 450 Duma seats • After parliamentary election of 2003 only retained 51 of the 450 Duma seats • Party leader Gennady Zyuganov finished second in the 1996 and 2000 elections, but support for the party dropped each time, he withdrew from the race in the 2004 election • Party was weakened in 2004 when a breakaway faction led by Vladimir Tikhonov split from the party • Party is less reformist than other parties, Zyuganov opposed the reforms initiated by Gorbachev • Party emphasizes central planning and nationalism • Would like to see Russia regain territories it lost after Soviet Union dissolution

  7. Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) • Communist Party of the old Soviet Union (CPSU) • After 1995 elections held 157 of the 450 Duma seats • After parliamentary election of 2003 only retained 51 of the 450 Duma seats • Party leader Gennady Zyuganov finished second in the 1996 and 2000 elections, but support for the party dropped each time, he withdrew from the race in the 2004 election • Party was weakened in 2004 when a breakaway faction led by Vladimir Tikhonov split from the party • Party is less reformist than other parties, Zyuganov opposed the reforms initiated by Gorbachev • Party emphasizes central planning and nationalism • Would like to see Russia regain territories it lost after Soviet Union dissolution

  8. Liberal Democratic Party • Controversial party • Headed by Vladimir Zhirinovsky • Extreme nationalist • Anti-semitic • Sexist • Attacks reformist leaders and disliked Yeltsin • Said he would use nuclear weapons on Japan if he were elected • Party reformulated as “Zhirinovsky’s Bloc” for 2000 presidential election, he received 2.7% of vote • Party did receive about 11% of vote in 2003 Duma elections (won 37 seats)

  9. Elections • 3 types • Referendum • Duma Elections • Presidential Elections

  10. 1993: Year of Elections – Year of Transition • March 1993 parliament attempts to impeach Yeltsin • Legislative-led coup tries to usurp control of the government • Yeltsin dissolves legislature, calls for new elections • Although opposition leaders were arrested, Yeltsin’s opponents won the majority in the new legislature • Radical Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s Liberal Party did surprisingly well • Despite losing control of the legislature Yeltsin was able to get approval for the new constitution: Constitution of 1993

  11. Constitution of 1993 • Created a three-branch government • President & Prime Minister • Lower legislative house (DUMA) • Constitutional Court • Referendum - allowed for president to call for national referenda by popular vote on important issues • Yeltsin’s first referendum was on his job performance • Second was for approval of the constitution itself

  12. Interest Groups • Oligarchy • Tied closely with the Yeltsin family • By mid-1990s monopolized Russian industry and built huge fortunes • Boris Berezovsky – admitted that he and six other entrepreneurs controlled over half the GNP • Dominant in oil, media, and television industries • Helped Yeltsin win 1996 election • Created and financed the Unity Party in 2000 and got Vladimir Putin elected • Putin has cracked down on “independent minded” oligarchs and has taken control of media and oil industry • Russian Mafia • Larger and perhaps even more influential than the oligarchy • Initially involved in underworld crime • During Revolution of 1991 gained control of businesses, natural resources, and banks • Involved in money laundering, drugs, prostitution, and business payoffs (“protection money”) • Includes former members of the KGB

  13. Interest Groups II • Huge fortunes made by oligarchs and the mafia offend the equality of opportunity principle of the Russian people • In the past, lawlessness in Russia has been dealt with by repressive, authoritarian rule, and these groups represent a threat to the new democracy • Putin arrested television magnate Vladimir Gusinsky for corruption and his company was given to a state-owned monopoly • In 2003, Mikhail Khodorvsky, the richest man in Russia and CEO of the Yukos Oil Company was arrested as a signal that the Russian government was consolidating power • Yukos was slapped with massive penalties and additional taxes, forcing it into bankruptcy • Russian Media– a linkage institution with close ties to both the state and the oligarchy, has been manipulated by dominant political and interest groups to pursue their own causes

  14. Interest Groups III • Key Associational Groups • Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE) • Desire for individual firms to be friendly with President limits its action (Yukos Affair) • League of Committees of Soldiers’ Mothers • Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FITUR)

  15. Political Institutions of Russian Federation

  16. X. Institutions of GovernmentA. President & Prime Minister • Duties of the President • Appoints the prime minister and cabinet – Duma must approve prime minister’s appointment, but if they reject the president’s nominee three times, the president may dissolve the Duma (power ministries responsible to president, core of security council) • Issue decrees that have force of law– cabinet has great deal of power, Duma can not censure cabinet according to Constitution of 1993 • Dissolve the Duma– done by Yeltsin during legislative coup attempt of 1993 • Veto – President has power of veto passed by Duma • Directly elected by two-ballot system (similar to France) • President is limited to two terms (Putin attempted to eliminate this rule in 2004, but was not adopted)

  17. Prime Minister • Prime Minister: relationship between PM and President not exactly clear, but with no vice-president if anything happens to president the PM assumes the office of president • Prime Minister is nominated by President and approved by the Duma • Can be removed by Duma if two repeat votes of no confidence are passed within a three-month period • Oversees the “non-power” ministries run by bureaucrats who are holdovers from the Soviet nomenklatura system

  18. National Bureaucracy • Russia contains a large bureaucracy, a holdover from the Soviet days, and a presidential administration that serves the president directly • The heads of the various ministries are career bureaucrats • Patron-client networks are important for career opportunities and advancement

  19. B. Bicameral LegislatureFederalnoeSobranie • Duma • Lower House • 450 deputies • All seats based on proportional representation (2005 ); must win 7% of popular vote to gain seats • Designed to strengthen political party system • Passes Bills • Approves Budgets • Confirms president’s political appointments • “Could” override vetoes • Federation Council • Upper House • Two members elected from each of the 89 regions of the federation • Power to delay legislation • On paper Federation Council can change boundaries of republics, ratify use of armed forces, and appoint and remove judges. These powers have yet to be used however • Meets once every 2 weeks

  20. C. Judiciary • Supreme Court • Created by 1993 Constitution • Serves as final court of appeals in criminal & civil cases • Constitutional Court • Created by 1993 Constitution • 19 members • Appointed by president and confirmed by Federation Council • Adjudicate disputes on the constitutionality of federal and regional laws

  21. D. Military • Was a source of strength during the Soviet era, 1945-1991 • Once stood at over 4 million men • Generally did not get involved in politics, this continues under the Russian Federation • Russian Federation relies on a system of universal male conscription, but many rejected for health reasons • Suffered significant humiliation from the late 1980’s to early 21st century • Withdrawal from Afghanistan • Defeated by Chechen guerrillas in 1994-1996 conflict • Often ill-equipped, Russian soldiers had to feed themselves and went unpaid for months in late 1990’s and early 21st century

  22. Foreign Policy • Relations with Former Republics • Confederation of Independent States (CIS) • Russia is the clear leader of organization • Is not nearly as successful, economically and politically, as the EU • Bonded together by trade agreements • Putin’s meddling in Ukrainian election of 2004 was cause for concern • Relations with the World • Adjustment period for Russia following Cold War and loss of superpower status • Offered aid and foreign investment by U.S. • Accepted into the G-7 (now known as G-8) • UN Security Council permanent member • Russia set to join the WTO in July 2007

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