Evolution of the Evolution of the Russian StateRussian State

Oligarchy vs. DemocracyOligarchy vs. Democracy

OligarchsOligarchs – business and political leaders – business and political leaders with immense wealth and influencewith immense wealth and influence

Vladimir Putin replaced Yeltsin in 1999 and Vladimir Putin replaced Yeltsin in 1999 and has attempted to contain the oligarch’s has attempted to contain the oligarch’s influence in some aspects of governmentinfluence in some aspects of government– Centralization of power in PresidentCentralization of power in President– Movement towards authoritarian ruleMovement towards authoritarian rule– Unpredictability of Russia (No experience with Unpredictability of Russia (No experience with

democracy and free market economy)democracy and free market economy)– Slavic roots provide strong tendency to Slavic roots provide strong tendency to

autocratic ruleautocratic rule

Sovereignty, Authority, and Sovereignty, Authority, and PowerPower

Most of 20Most of 20thth century authority in century authority in Soviet Union came from the Politburo Soviet Union came from the Politburo of the Communist Partyof the Communist Party

Politburo Politburo – small group of men who – small group of men who climbed the ranks of the party climbed the ranks of the party through the through the nomenklatura nomenklatura system.system.– NomenklaturaNomenklatura – Soviet system of lists – Soviet system of lists

that facilitated the CPSU’s appointment that facilitated the CPSU’s appointment of trusted people to key positionsof trusted people to key positions

StalinismStalinism

Stalin places Communist Party Stalin places Communist Party (CPSU) at center of control(CPSU) at center of control– Leaders identified through Leaders identified through nomenklatura nomenklatura – process of – process of

selecting individuals from lower levels within party selecting individuals from lower levels within party – Central Committee: Central Committee: group of 300 party leaders who group of 300 party leaders who

were the top government officialswere the top government officials– Politburo: Politburo: “heart and soul” of Communist Party, group “heart and soul” of Communist Party, group

of 12 men from the Central Committee who ran the of 12 men from the Central Committee who ran the country, all government agencies and departments were country, all government agencies and departments were at their disposal and carried out their decisionsat their disposal and carried out their decisions

– General Secretary:General Secretary: head of the Politburo, “dictator” of head of the Politburo, “dictator” of the country (Stalin was General Secretary from 1927–the country (Stalin was General Secretary from 1927–1953)1953)

Stalinism IIStalinism II

Collectivization & IndustrializationCollectivization & Industrialization– ““Collective farms”Collective farms”– Private land ownership abolishedPrivate land ownership abolished– Five-Year PlansFive-Year Plans: ambitious goals for production : ambitious goals for production

of heavy industry such as oil, steel, and of heavy industry such as oil, steel, and electricity. Labor and factories fueled by electricity. Labor and factories fueled by agricultural surplus produced from the farmsagricultural surplus produced from the farms

– GosplanGosplan: Central State Planning Commission, in : Central State Planning Commission, in charge of Five-Year Plans, became the center for charge of Five-Year Plans, became the center for the economy, determined production and the economy, determined production and distribution of virtually all goods in Soviet Uniondistribution of virtually all goods in Soviet Union

GorbachevGorbachev

Took over as General Secretary in the Took over as General Secretary in the mid-1980’smid-1980’s

Led a younger generation of communistsLed a younger generation of communists Educated and more “westernized” than Educated and more “westernized” than

previous Soviet leadersprevious Soviet leaders Initiated a wave of reforms that Initiated a wave of reforms that

included:included:– GlasnostGlasnost– PerestroikaPerestroika– DemokratizatsiiaDemokratizatsiia

Glasnost – “Openness”Glasnost – “Openness”

Open discussion of political, social, and Open discussion of political, social, and economic issueseconomic issues

Allowed for open criticism of government Allowed for open criticism of government and government policiesand government policies

Gorbachev stressed that the ultimate test Gorbachev stressed that the ultimate test of the party lay in improving the economic of the party lay in improving the economic well-being of the country and it’s peoplewell-being of the country and it’s people– Open market relationsOpen market relations– Pragmatic economic policyPragmatic economic policy– Less secretive governmentLess secretive government

Perestroika – Perestroika – “Restructuring”“Restructuring”

Loosened controls of the Communist Party, Loosened controls of the Communist Party, allowing group formation in other sectors allowing group formation in other sectors of societyof society

Economic RestructuringEconomic Restructuring– Modernization from withinModernization from within– Transfer economic power from central Transfer economic power from central

government to private hands and market government to private hands and market economyeconomy Authorization of privately owned companiesAuthorization of privately owned companies Penalties for under-performing state factoriesPenalties for under-performing state factories Price reformsPrice reforms Encouragement of joint ventures with foreign Encouragement of joint ventures with foreign

companiescompanies Leasing of farm land outside the collective farmsLeasing of farm land outside the collective farms

DemokratizatsiiaDemokratizatsiia Gorbachev wanted to insert some Gorbachev wanted to insert some

democratic characteristics into the old democratic characteristics into the old Soviet structureSoviet structure

However, he did want to maintain However, he did want to maintain Communist Party controlCommunist Party control

Reforms included:Reforms included:1.1. A new Congress of People’s Deputies with A new Congress of People’s Deputies with

directly elected representativesdirectly elected representatives2.2. New position of “President” that was selected New position of “President” that was selected

by the Congressby the Congress Deputies were often critical of GorbachevDeputies were often critical of Gorbachev Increasing levels of displeasure with government from Increasing levels of displeasure with government from

both liberal and conservative members of Communist both liberal and conservative members of Communist PartyParty

Revolution of 1991Revolution of 1991 August 1991August 1991 Coup was led by “Conservatives” (those opposed to, Coup was led by “Conservatives” (those opposed to,

or who wanted to abandon Gorbachev’s reforms)or who wanted to abandon Gorbachev’s reforms)– Vice-presidentVice-president– Head of the KGBHead of the KGB– Top military advisersTop military advisers

Coup failed when popular protests erupted and Coup failed when popular protests erupted and soldiers defected rather than support their leaderssoldiers defected rather than support their leaders

Protesters were led by Boris Yeltsin, president elect Protesters were led by Boris Yeltsin, president elect of the Russian Republicof the Russian Republic

Gorbachev restored to power, but by December 1991 Gorbachev restored to power, but by December 1991 eleven Soviet republics had declared their eleven Soviet republics had declared their independenceindependence

Gorbachev officially announces dissolution of Soviet Gorbachev officially announces dissolution of Soviet Union and his resignationUnion and his resignation

Boris YeltsinBoris Yeltsin Former member of Politburo, removed because Former member of Politburo, removed because

his radical views offended conservativeshis radical views offended conservatives– Even more extreme than GorbachevEven more extreme than Gorbachev

Elected president of Russian Republic as result of Elected president of Russian Republic as result of voting procedures put in place by Gorbachevvoting procedures put in place by Gorbachev

Emerged as president of the largest republic, Emerged as president of the largest republic, Russian Federation, after Soviet Union dissolvedRussian Federation, after Soviet Union dissolved

Attempted to create a “western-style” democracyAttempted to create a “western-style” democracy ““Shock Therapy” economic reforms (Immediate Shock Therapy” economic reforms (Immediate

market economy)market economy)– Russian economy did not respond to “shock therapy” Russian economy did not respond to “shock therapy”

reformsreforms– Conflict erupted between Yeltsin and the DumaConflict erupted between Yeltsin and the Duma

Yeltsin IIYeltsin II

Poor presidentPoor president Hired and fired numerous prime Hired and fired numerous prime

ministersministers Alcoholic & frequently ill; this led to Alcoholic & frequently ill; this led to

erratic political behaviorerratic political behavior Resigned before the 2000 electionsResigned before the 2000 elections Vladimir Putin, Yeltsin’s prime minister, Vladimir Putin, Yeltsin’s prime minister,

took over and won the 2000 & 2004 took over and won the 2000 & 2004 electionselections