Russia!

1. Russia! A Brief History and Political Examination

3. Just a Bit of Background…. Russia is about 1.8 times the size of United States, about 17 million square miles The capital city is Moscow Russia’s 141.9 million citizens descend from more than 100 ethnic groups. Russian is the official language of Russia and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, timber, furs, precious and nonferrous metals. Education (total pop.): Literacy--99.4%.Health: Life expectancy (2007 est.)--67.5 average; 61.4 yrs. men, 73.9 yrs. women. Industry: Types--Complete range of manufactures: automobiles, trucks, trains, agricultural equipment, advanced aircraft, aerospace, machine and equipment products; mining and extractive industry; medical and scientific instruments; construction equipment.

4. Some Vocab Terms that May Interest You…… Bolsheviks: Lenin’s faction of the Russian Social Democratic Party; later came to mean anyone who followed his views and/or organization. Brezhnev, Leonid: General secretary of the CPSU from 1964 until 1982. Largely responsible for the stagnation of the USSR. Central Committee: Supposedly the most important body in a communist party; its influence declined as it grew in size and the party needed daily leadership. Cheka: The Soviet Union’s first secret police. Chernomyrdin, Viktor: Prime minister of Russia, 1993–98. Comintern: The interwar coalition of communist parties directed from Moscow. Communist Party of the Russian Federation: The new incarnation of the CPSU for Russia. Communist Party of the Soviet Union: The party that ran the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991. CPSU: Communist Party of the Soviet Union Democratic centralism: The Leninist organizational structure that concentrates power in the hands of the party elite. Fatherland–All Russia: One of the leading opposition parties in Russia in the 1999 Duma elections. Federation Council: The largely powerless upper house of the Russian parliament. Five-year plan: In the former Soviet Union and other communist countries, the period for which Gosplan developed goals and quotas. Gaidar, Yegor: Reformist politician and acting prime minister of Russia in 1993. Glasnost: Under Gorbachev, Soviet policies that opened up the political system and allowed for freedom of expression. Gorbachev, Mikhail: Head of the CPSU and last president of the Soviet Union. Gosplan: The Soviet central planning agency.

5. More Terms KGB: Soviet secret police Khodorkovsky, Mikhail: Russian tycoon arrested on corruption and tax evasion charges in 2003. Khrushchev, Nikita: Successor of Josef Stalin as head of CPSU and Soviet Union from 1953 until he was ousted in 1964. Lenin, V. I.: Architect of the Bolshevik revolution and first leader of the Soviet Union. Liberal Democratic Party: In Britain, the number-three party and in some ways the most radical; in Japan, the dominant party since the 1950s; in Russia, the neofascist and racist opposition party led by Vladimir Zhirinovsky. Mensheviks: The smaller and more moderate faction of the Russian Social Democratic Party before World War I. Near abroad: Russian term to describe the other fourteen republics of the former Soviet Union. NEP: New Economic Policy in USSR Nomenklatura: The Soviet system of lists that facilitated the CPSU’s appointment of trusted people to key positions. Adopted by other communist regimes. Oligarch: Business and political leaders with what some think is undue influence in Russia. Our Home Is Russia: New political party chaired by former prime minister Viktor Chernomyrdin. Perestroika: Ill-fated program to reform the Soviet economy in the late 1980s. Politburo: Generic term used to describe the leadership of communist parties. Power ministries: The most important departments in the Russian government. Privatization: The selling off of state-owned companies.

6. Even More Terms Provisional government: Generic term used to describe temporary governments until a new constitution is written; also the government in Russia between the two 1917 revolutions. Purge: The systematic removal of people from party, state, or other office; especially common in communist systems. Putin, Vladimir: President of Russia since 2000. RSFSR: Official title of the Russian Federation of the old Soviet Union Russian Federation: Formal name of Russia. Secret speech Given by Khrushchev in 1957, seen as the start of the “thaw.”. Secretariat: Generic term used to describe the bureaucratic leaders of a communist party. Shock therapy: Policies in formerly communist countries that envisage as rapid a shift to a market economy as possible. Stalin, Joseph: Leader of the CPSU and Soviet Union, 1924–53. State Duma: The lower house of the Russian parliament. State Security Council: The leading ministers of the Russian government. Third International: Moscow-dominated organization of communist parties around the world between the two world wars. Twentieth Party Congress: Occasion of Khrushchev’s “secret speech” launching de-Stalinization. United Russia: The political party led by Russian president Vladimir Putin. Yaboloko: One of the leading reformist parties in Russia. Yeltsin, Boris: Former reformist communist leader and president of Russia, 1991–2000. Zhirinovsky, Vladimir: Leader of the right-wing and racist Liberal Democratic Party in Russia. Zyuganov, Gennady: Head of the Russian Communist Party.

8. Russia’s Early Years The first lineal predecessor of the modern Russian state was founded in 862. The political entity known as Kievan Rus was established in Kiev in 962 and lasted until the 12th century. Byzantine culture predominated, as is evident in much of Russia's architectural, musical, and artistic heritage. Mongols under Batu Khan destroyed the main population centers except for Novgorod and Pskov in the 13th century and prevailed over the region until 1480.. Ivan III (1462-1505) referred to his empire as "the Third Rome" and considered it heir to the Byzantine tradition. Ivan IV (the Terrible) (1530-1584) was the first Russian ruler to call himself tsar. He pushed Russian eastward with his conquests but his later reign was marked by the cruelty that earned him his familiar epithet. He was succeeded by Boris Godunov, whose reign commenced the so-called Time of Troubles. Relative stability was achieved when Michael Romanov established the dynasty that bore his name in 1613. During the reign of Peter the Great (1689-1725), modernization and European influences spread in Russia. Peter created Western-style military forces, subordinated the Russian Orthodox Church hierarchy to the tsar, reformed the entire governmental structure, and established the beginnings of a Western-style education system. He moved the capital westward from Moscow to St. Petersburg, his newly-established city on the Baltic. Catherine the Great continued Peter's expansionist policies and established Russia as a European power. During her reign (1762-96), power was centralized in the monarchy, and administrative reforms concentrated great wealth and privilege in the hands of the Russian nobility.  

9. Early Years cont. Alexander I (1801-1825) began his reign as a reformer, but after defeating Napoleon's 1812 attempt to conquer Russia, he became much more conservative and rolled back many of his early reforms. During this era, Russia gained control of Georgia and much of the Caucasus. Throughout the 19th century, the Russian Government sought to suppress repeated attempts at reform and attempts at liberation by various national movements, particularly under the reign of Nicholas I (1825-1855). Russia expanded into the rest of the Caucasus, Central Asia and across Siberia. The Trans-Siberian Railroad opened vast frontiers to development late in the century. In the 19th century, Russian culture flourished as Russian artists made significant contributions to world literature, visual arts, dance, and music. The names of Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Gogol, Repin, and Tchaikovsky became known to the world. Alexander II (1855-1881), a relatively liberal tsar, emancipated the serfs. His 1881 assassination, however, prompted the reactionary rule of Alexander III (1881-1894). At the turn of the century, imperial decline became evident. Russia was defeated in the unpopular Russo-Japanese war in 1905. The Russian Revolution of 1905 forced Tsar Nicholas II (1894-1917) to grant a constitution and introduce limited democratic reforms.

10. U.S.S.R. The ruinous effects of World War I, combined with internal pressures, sparked the March 1917 uprising that led Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate the throne. A provisional government came to power, headed by Aleksandr Kerenskiy. On November 7, 1917, the Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized control and established the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic. Civil war broke out in 1918 between Lenin's "Red" army and various "White" forces and lasted until 1920, when, despite foreign interventions and a war with Poland, the Bolsheviks triumphed. After the Red army conquered Ukraine, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia, a new nation, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.), was formed in 1922. First among its political figures was Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik Party and head of the first Soviet Government, who died in 1924. In the late 1920s, Josef Stalin emerged as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) amidst intra-party rivalries; he maintained complete control over Soviet domestic and international policy until his death in 1953. In the 1930s, Stalin oversaw the forced collectivization of tens of millions of its citizens in state agricultural and industrial enterprises. Millions died in the process. Millions more died in political purges, the vast penal and labor system, and in state-created famines. Initially allied to Nazi Germany, which resulted in significant territorial additions on its western border, the U.S.S.R. was attacked by the Axis on June 22, 1941. Twenty million Soviet citizens died during World War II in the successful effort to defeat the Axis, in addition to over two million Soviet Jews who perished in the Holocaust. After the war, the U.S.S.R. became one of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council. In 1949, the U.S.S.R. developed its own nuclear arsenal.

11. Marx and Engels Karl Heinrich Marx - was a greatly influential German philosopher, political economist, and socialist revolutionary Friedrich Engels - was the nineteenth century German political philosopher and Karl Marx’s co-developer of communist theory. Friedrich Engels became the editor and translator of Marx’s writings

12. Principal Ideas of Marxism • Exploitation • Ruling class must exploit the rest of the pop. • Alienation • Historical Materialism • Progress occurs as a result of changes in the distribution of econimic power • Base and Superstructure • Class • Progress occurs as a result of conflict between the classes determined by who owns key institutions • Proletariat • Bourgeoisie • Ideology • Political Economy

13. Marxism • Society based on inequality = workers resent their exploitation • Alienation & class consciousness enhanced by spread of mass education and political freedoms of liberal democracy • Significant political and economic progress can only occur through Revolution • Transitional Period • Communism • Aka no need for superstructure because people would no longer be exploiting each oher

14. Marxism-Leninism also known colloquially as Bolshevism or simply communism originally coined by the CPSU in order to denote the ideology that Vladimir Lenin had built upon the thought of Karl Marx. Democratic Centralism

15. 1854-1924

16. 1927-1982

17. Took power from other contender’s, like Trotsky, Zimonev, and Kamenev after Lenin’s death Trotsky’s “left” faction charged that the new economic Policy (NEP), which was launched in 1921, was a retreat from Socialism as it did not allow free enterprise and foreign investment By 1929 Stalin’s power over the Soviet union remained unchallenged The Role of Stalin

18. More On Stalin Stalin believed that he could make a communist state no matter what Stalin and therefore The Soviet Union pushed other countries to make a communist state. He instituted the Cominterm, a document made to foment world revolutions Economically In tandem with the radical reconstruction of agriculture, Stalin sought to greatly expand the industrial capacity He devised five year plans that were to boost the backwardness of the Russian economy. They were accomplished at great cost to the common people. He also instituted mass purges. He eliminated his enemies, both real and imagined.

19. What about Khrushchev? Emerged after Stalin’s death Began a program of De-Stalinization, taking away the more dangerous programs In 1954 Khrushchev had shown his determination to be friendlier and more cooperative with other nations, by joining the United Nations International Labor organization (ILO) and the UNESCO (United Nations Educational scientific and Cultural Organization Khrushchev even employed the “Secret Speech”, during which he openly denounced Stalin and his programs Visited the United States in an effort to instill peace and harmony. He even invited vice-president Richard Nixon to come and talk to him in Russia in an effort to end hostility

20. In 1962 the United States and the Moscow came to a head over the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviets deployed missiles carrying nuclear warheads to Cuba. Kennedy, having seen the nuclear sites from the aerial photos, condemned Russia for supplying the weapons and ordered that all medium and long-range missiles entering and residing in Cuba will be dismantled. Khrushchev offered two letters to Kennedy, both broaching a compromise. eventually Khrushchev wrote that he would dismantle the Cuban missiles The communist governments of Russia and the Chinese saw this statesmen’s like move as a yield to capitalist markets, and this as well as a mishandling of some Sino-Soviet relations led to the fall of Khrushchev Khrushchev cont.

21. Brezhnev Having ousted Khrushchev, the Russian state wanted a stable oligarchy, one that wasn’t as gregarious and unpredictable as that under Khrushchev The men that replace Khrushchev quickly dismantled many of Khrushchev’s programs. They dismantled Khrushchev’s regional economic councils. Among other things they reversed the De-Stalinization programs and curbed public criticism of Stalin Brezhnev soon gained control of this new nation-state. In his 18 year reign he turned the country into a military superpower with client states around the world. Don’t Forget Brezhnev

22. His economic policy emphasized defense production and heavy industry Also, he implemented stricter controls on artistic and ideological controls He put his ideas out during the twenty-third Congress He and a few of top cronies were members of the Politburo Economically, Brezhnev made two “first priorities” when it came to resources, the military and agriculture The economy grew by a meager 2.3 percent every year. Foreign policy was continued from Khrushchev’s peaceful coexistence Likewise a nuclear test ban treaty was signed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Brezhnev cont.

23. The Fall of the U.S.S.R. In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the next (and last) General Secretary of the CPSU. Gorbachev introduced policies of perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness). But his efforts to reform the creaky Communist system from within failed. The people of the Soviet Union were not content with half-freedoms granted by Moscow; they demanded more and the system collapsed. Boris Yeltsin was elected the first president of the Russian Federation in 1991. Russia, Ukraine and Belarus formed the Commonwealth of Independent States in December 1991. Gorbachev resigned as Soviet President on December 25, 1991. Eleven days later, the U.S.S.R. was formally dissolved.

24. 1985-1991

25. The Chechnya Controversy In a dramatic speech in September 1993, President Yeltsin dissolved the Russian parliament and called for new national elections and a new constitution. In December 1993, voters elected a new parliament and approved a new constitution that had been drafted by the Yeltsin government. In late 1994, the Russian security forces launched a brutal operation in the Republic of Chechnya against rebels who were intent on separation from Russia. Along with their opponents, Russian forces committed numerous violations of human rights. in August 1996 the Russian and Chechen authorities negotiated a settlement that resulted in a complete withdrawal of Russian troops and the holding of elections in January 1997. A peace treaty was concluded in May 1997. Following a number of terrorist incidents blamed on Chechen separatists, the Russian government launched a new military campaign into Chechnya. By spring 2000, federal forces claimed control over Chechen territory, but fighting continues as rebel fighters regularly ambush Russian forces in the region. Throughout 2002 and 2003, the ability of Chechen separatists to battle the Russian forces waned but they claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist acts. In 2005 and 2006, key separatist leaders were killed by Russian forces. The situation stabilized after Ramzan Kadyrov was confirmed as Chechen President. In April 2009, the Russian Government announced the end of counter-terrorism operations in Chechnya; however, small-scale fighting continues between rebel forces and local law enforcement.

26. 1991-2000

27. Russia in Recent Years On December 31, 1999 Boris Yeltsin resigned, and Vladimir Putin was named Acting President. In March 2000, he won election in his own right as Russia's second president with 53% of the vote. Putin moved quickly to reassert Moscow's control over the regions, whose governors had confidently ignored edicts from Boris Yeltsin. He sent his own "plenipotentiary representatives" (commonly called ‘polpred' in Russian) to ensure that Moscow's policies were followed in recalcitrant regions and republics. He won enactment of liberal economic reforms that rescued a faltering economy and stopped a spiral of hyperinflation. Putin achieved wide popularity by stabilizing the government, especially in marked contrast to what many Russians saw as the chaos of the latter Yeltsin years. The economy grew both because of rising oil prices and in part because Putin was able to achieve reforms in banking, labor, and private property. During this time, Russia also moved closer to the U.S., especially after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In 2002, the NATO-Russia Council was established, giving Russia a voice in NATO discussions. However, U.S.-Russian relations cooled over the ensuing years given concerns over domestic developments in Russia, including political freedoms and human rights, as well as over foreign policy differences. Dmitriy Medvedev was elected President In March 2008 and inaugurated in May. Relations during the first few months of his presidency were affected by the August 2008 Russia-Georgia war and subsequent decision by Russia to recognize the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. As a result, U.S.-Russian contact decreased significantly and the NATO-Russia Council was suspended temporarily. With the change of U.S. administration in January 2009, U.S.-Russian relations have improved as both sides seek to change the tone of the relationship and to cooperate in areas of mutual interest.

28. Tsar Nicholas II 1894 -1917

29. Vladimir Lenin 1917 - 1924

30. Josef Stalin 1924 - 1953

31. Leon Trotsky

32. Nikita Khrushchev 1953 -1964

33. Leonid Brezhnev 1964 - 1982

34. Mikhail Gorbachev 1985 - 1991

35. Ramzan Kadyrov 2007-

36. Boris Yeltsin 1991 -1999

37. Vladimir Putin 1999 - 2008

38. Dmitriy Medvedev 2008 -

39. Sovereignty, Authority and Power

40. Sovereignty – having supreme rank, power, or authority • Authority - the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes • Power - political or national strength; great or marked ability to do or act

41. Sources of Power • Governance - exercising management power and policy by the government • Political power – the type of power held by the government which allows administration of some or all of public resources • Authority - refers to a claim of legitimacy, the justification and right to exercise that power

42. "We must create a tradition of constitutional transition of power and demonstrate to the country and the world that it is possible in Russia and that this is not a catastrophe, but on the contrary, our state is in some ways becoming stronger.” V. V. Putin

43. Subdivisions • The Russian Federation consists of 83 subjects • Each has 2 delegates represented in the Federation Council • 21 republics autonomous, each has its own constitution, president and parliament; home to a specific ethnic minority • 46 oblasts most common, regular administrative units with federally appointed governor and locally elected legislature. • 9 krais extremely similar to oblasts • 1 autonomous oblasts • 4 autonomous okrugs more autonomous than oblasts but less than republics; usually with substantial or predominant ethnic minority • 2 federal cities major cities that function as separate regions.

45. Declaration on State Sovereignty of the RSFSR • Began the constitutional reform in the Russian Federation in 1990 • Adopted by the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, signed by Chairman Boris Yeltsin It declared: • The importance of the Constitution on the legislation • Equality before the law • The idea of separation of powers • Federalism - expanding the rights of the autonomous republics, regions, districts, territories of Russia

46. Issues with Sovereignty in Russia • The more liberal post-Soviet atmosphere allows more freedom of opinion • Therefore, minorities were speaking out… • Some wanted union between peoples on both sides of an internal or international border arbitrarily drawn by the tsars or by Soviet authorities • People can express their anger over Soviet political and economic subjugation and Russification campaigns • Non-Russian nationalities that were exploited for their resources for the benefit of Moscow want to be compensated • The perceived failure to provide support and protection of native schools and cultures by the government • The Russian government's monopolization and censorship of the news media acquainted minority groups with political trends, such as the spread of nationalism

47. Political Culture • Although the process of choosing a leader has been democratized, the process of governance remains a hybrid of Soviet and Western practices. • According to many analysts, the long-term well-being of Russia's political system will be determined by the next generation of political figures, who will not be schooled on Soviet-style power politics.

48. Regime Types • Socialist state – also referred to as a workers' state and in Marxist terms is defined as a state that has abolished capitalism and is moving towards communism • Federation - type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government.

49. Legitimacy • The people must accept the right of the authority figures to rule over them for a nation to be successful • The new democratic Russian Federation has been difficult to adapt to based on expectations citizens had of the post-Soviet Russian state, including public order, economic security, welfare guarantees, and checks on social inequality

50. Russian Political Institutions