Teaching Russia’s Teaching Russia’s “tandemocracy”“tandemocracy”

Janet Elise JohnsonJanet Elise Johnson

Brooklyn College, CUNYBrooklyn College, CUNY

Johnson@brooklyn.cuny.eduJohnson@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Two contentious--and one Two contentious--and one tough-- topics to teachtough-- topics to teach

1.1. regime typeregime type

2.2. executive-parliamentary relationsexecutive-parliamentary relations

3.3. gender gender

Outcomes: Knowledge and Outcomes: Knowledge and practicepractice

a.a. gain familiarity with some current gain familiarity with some current scholarly debates about current scholarly debates about current eventsevents

b.b. have a model for how to integrate have a model for how to integrate theory with the “facts”theory with the “facts”

c.c. some useful resourcessome useful resources

1.regime type: 1.regime type: start with some democracy start with some democracy

theorytheory Schmitter and Karl (1991) “What Schmitter and Karl (1991) “What

DemocracyDemocracy Is….and Is Not” Is….and Is Not” (introduce (introduce during unit on Britain to define during unit on Britain to define democracy)democracy)– ““a system of governance in which rules a system of governance in which rules

are held accountable for their actions in are held accountable for their actions in the public realm by citizens, acting the public realm by citizens, acting indirectly through the competition and indirectly through the competition and cooperation of their elected cooperation of their elected representatives.”representatives.”

– more than just elections: also civil more than just elections: also civil society, civil and political rightssociety, civil and political rights

and theory about hybridsand theory about hybrids Diamond (2002) “Thinking about Diamond (2002) “Thinking about hybrid hybrid

regimesregimes” ” (read during Russia unit)(read during Russia unit)– combining democratic and authoritarian combining democratic and authoritarian

elements, usually the procedures of democracy, elements, usually the procedures of democracy, but not a more comprehensive democracy; not but not a more comprehensive democracy; not full political and civil rights, limited civil societyfull political and civil rights, limited civil society

– ““Elections are free when the legal barriers to Elections are free when the legal barriers to entry into the political arena are low, when there entry into the political arena are low, when there is substantial freedom for candidates and is substantial freedom for candidates and supporters of different political parties to supporters of different political parties to campaign and solicit votes, and when voters campaign and solicit votes, and when voters experience little or no coercion in exercising their experience little or no coercion in exercising their electoral choices.”electoral choices.”

compare of Russia’s situation compare of Russia’s situation to definitions from theoryto definitions from theory

procedures of democracyprocedures of democracy– is there accountability? is there accountability? (no institutional mechanism)(no institutional mechanism)– are elections competitive, that is, free, fair, inclusive, are elections competitive, that is, free, fair, inclusive,

and meaningful? and meaningful? (fraud, dominant party that creates (fraud, dominant party that creates loyal opposition and manipulates the real opposition loyal opposition and manipulates the real opposition out of the game through election rules and coercion)out of the game through election rules and coercion)

goals of democracy (constitutional liberalism)goals of democracy (constitutional liberalism)– is civil society unfettered? is civil society unfettered? (paternalistic control (paternalistic control

through selective enforcement of 2006 NGO law and through selective enforcement of 2006 NGO law and funding obedient NGOs; channeling/inhibiting protest)funding obedient NGOs; channeling/inhibiting protest)

– is the media free? is the media free? (public control of TV and most (public control of TV and most national newspapers)national newspapers)

– do people have meaningful civil and political rights? do people have meaningful civil and political rights? (only in unimportant contexts)(only in unimportant contexts)

Also compare to countriesAlso compare to countries

less democratic than Britain, Mexico, and less democratic than Britain, Mexico, and even Nigeriaeven Nigeria– e.g. the creation of loyal opposition parties e.g. the creation of loyal opposition parties

(Just Russia) has parallels to Mexico’s PRI and (Just Russia) has parallels to Mexico’s PRI and Nigeria under Abacha and Babndiga (but more Nigeria under Abacha and Babndiga (but more skillful in Russia!)skillful in Russia!)

less authoritarian than Iran and Chinaless authoritarian than Iran and China– media in Russia not censored directly as in media in Russia not censored directly as in

ChinaChina

Country

Political Rights,

2009

Civil Liber-ties, 2009

Press Freedom ranking,

2009

Socio-economic conditions

ranking, 2007

Environ-mental

Protection ranking,

2008Gender Gap

ranking, 2007

United States 1 1 20 180 39 31

United Kingdom 1 1 20 193 14 11

Russia 6 5 153 150 28 45

China 7 6 168 103 104 73

Mexico 2 3 137 112 47 93

Nigeria 5 4 135 14 126 107

Iran 6 6 172 73 67 118Freedom House, http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=15 (score 1-7, 1=best)

Reporters without Borders, http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24025 (1=best)

Infant mortality, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2091rank.html (1=worst)

Yale researchers, http://epi.yale.edu/CountryScores (1=best)

World Economic Forum, http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Gender%20Gap/index.htm (1=best)

Some helpful mediaSome helpful media have students compare Soviet and Putin have students compare Soviet and Putin

national anthems (same music) to set the national anthems (same music) to set the stagestage

Frontline PBS (illustrates suppression of Frontline PBS (illustrates suppression of dissent)dissent)– 2007 prodemocracy march before the 2008 2007 prodemocracy march before the 2008

presidential electionspresidential elections– http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/blog/2007/12/russhttp://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/blog/2007/12/russ

ia_a_winter.html#ia_a_winter.html#

2002 song “Man like Putin” used again in 2008 2002 song “Man like Putin” used again in 2008 elections (demonstrates the cult of Putin)elections (demonstrates the cult of Putin)– English language version and Russian with subtitles English language version and Russian with subtitles

on Youtubeon Youtube– background info background info

http://www.pbs.org/soundtracks/stories/putin/http://www.pbs.org/soundtracks/stories/putin/

from hybrid to “soft from hybrid to “soft authoritarianism”?authoritarianism”?

for example, Kesselman 2010 for example, Kesselman 2010 (DeBardeleben), label Russia a “developing (DeBardeleben), label Russia a “developing democracy,” still a “hybrid”democracy,” still a “hybrid”

but the scholarly debate is moving toward but the scholarly debate is moving toward “soft authoritarianism” “soft authoritarianism”

no consensus on definition: not quite no consensus on definition: not quite authoritarianauthoritarian– opposition is legally allowed to operate, but opposition is legally allowed to operate, but

can’t challenge powercan’t challenge power– not outright censorship of speech or not outright censorship of speech or

suppression of civil society, but little space for suppression of civil society, but little space for meaningful free speech or critique of regimemeaningful free speech or critique of regime

ADDITIONAL RESOURCESADDITIONAL RESOURCES Freedom House Nation in Transit ReportsFreedom House Nation in Transit Reports Slavic Review fall 2009 forum on “Managing Slavic Review fall 2009 forum on “Managing

Political Society in Russia”Political Society in Russia”– abstracts online at abstracts online at

http://www.slavicreview.illinois.edu/indexes/vol68/indehttp://www.slavicreview.illinois.edu/indexes/vol68/index.html#_Number_3,_Fallx.html#_Number_3,_Fall

other key theory:other key theory:– Fareed Zakaria 1997 “Rise of Illberal Democracy” in Fareed Zakaria 1997 “Rise of Illberal Democracy” in

Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs readable argument about Russia’s consolidation readable argument about Russia’s consolidation

– Kotkin, Stephen. 2008. Kotkin, Stephen. 2008. Armageddon Averted: The Armageddon Averted: The Soviet Collapse 1970-2000Soviet Collapse 1970-2000. New York: Oxford . New York: Oxford University Press. (Updated edition)University Press. (Updated edition)

2. Executive-parliamentary 2. Executive-parliamentary relationsrelations

teach the various powers of the teach the various powers of the Presidency, Prime minister, and Presidency, Prime minister, and Federal AssemblyFederal Assembly

highlighting especially the limited highlighting especially the limited ways that the Duma has oversight ways that the Duma has oversight over the Presover the Pres– disbanded if disapprove of PM candidate disbanded if disapprove of PM candidate

three timesthree times– can be dissolved in Duma issues two can be dissolved in Duma issues two

votes of no confidencevotes of no confidence

Introduce definitions Introduce definitions presidential system:presidential system: system of government in which the system of government in which the

chief executive is elected in a national ballot and is chief executive is elected in a national ballot and is independent of the legislative branchindependent of the legislative branch

parliamentary:parliamentary: system of government in which the chief system of government in which the chief executive is answerable to the legislature and may be executive is answerable to the legislature and may be dismissed by it.dismissed by it.

semipresidential:semipresidential: a form of government in which a form of government in which presidents are more than just figureheads but are presidents are more than just figureheads but are ultimately subordinate to the parliamentultimately subordinate to the parliament– a mix between presidential and parliamentary system, but a mix between presidential and parliamentary system, but

president dominatespresident dominates– both president and parliament are directly elected (and then both president and parliament are directly elected (and then

parliament then chooses the PM)parliament then chooses the PM)– problem of cohabitation which changes the distribution of problem of cohabitation which changes the distribution of

power in favor of the PMpower in favor of the PM– no fusion of power in the legislature (note that cabinet no fusion of power in the legislature (note that cabinet

members can’t serves as MPs)members can’t serves as MPs)

SOURCE: Kesselman 2007SOURCE: Kesselman 2007

but how to understand but how to understand “tandemocracy”“tandemocracy”

““tandemocracy” is pundit tandemocracy” is pundit jargon for the current form of jargon for the current form of

dual executivedual executive not from the word democracy, but tandemnot from the word democracy, but tandem power sharing between Putin and power sharing between Putin and

Medvedev since 2008 electionsMedvedev since 2008 elections– based on a personal agreementbased on a personal agreement– terms are not publicly knownterms are not publicly known

despite the constitutional right of the pres. despite the constitutional right of the pres. to dismiss the PM, Putin seems more to dismiss the PM, Putin seems more powerful, but Medvedev sometimes powerful, but Medvedev sometimes disagreesdisagrees

For more information, see “How Russia Works: An Assessment of the For more information, see “How Russia Works: An Assessment of the Medvedev Putin System.” Russian Analytical Digest No. 49/08 (November Medvedev Putin System.” Russian Analytical Digest No. 49/08 (November 6; www.res.ethz.ch/analysis/rad)6; www.res.ethz.ch/analysis/rad)

not semi-presidential… not semi-presidential… presidential? presidential?

superpresidential? or perhaps superpresidential? or perhaps superexecutivism?superexecutivism?SuperpresidentialismSuperpresidentialism

huge apparatus of presidential powerhuge apparatus of presidential power presidential control of the pursepresidential control of the purse frequent use of presidential decreesfrequent use of presidential decrees almost impossible impeachment of presidentalmost impossible impeachment of president little legislative oversightlittle legislative oversight little judicial oversightlittle judicial oversight

SOURCE: M. Steven Fish, 2000, "The Executive Deception: SOURCE: M. Steven Fish, 2000, "The Executive Deception: Superpresidentialism and the Degradation of Russian Politics," Superpresidentialism and the Degradation of Russian Politics," in Sperling, ed., in Sperling, ed., Building the Russian StateBuilding the Russian State, pp. 177-191, pp. 177-191

3. mainstreaming gender3. mainstreaming gender

women in formal politics: women in formal politics: – Women of Russia party, the first Women of Russia party, the first

successful all women’s partysuccessful all women’s party– more women in parliament (and more women in parliament (and

executive power) under Putin than since executive power) under Putin than since the end of communismthe end of communism

– but promotion of siloviki means the but promotion of siloviki means the promotion of men and a specific type of promotion of men and a specific type of masculinitymasculinity

Women in politicsWomen in politics

Interparliamentary Union, http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htmInterparliamentary Union, http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm

Russian (or Soviet leader)

Years with elections in the lower house

Lower House Upper House

Brezhnev 1980 33.0% 32.8%

Gorbachev 1990 5.4% 7.5%

Yeltsin 1993 13.5% 5.2%

1995 10.0% 1.0%

Yeltsin/Putin 1999 7.6% 3.4%

Putin 2003 9.8% 3.4%

2007 14.0% 4.7%

3. mainstream gender 3. mainstream gender

civil society: civil society: – women dominated the NGOs that emerged women dominated the NGOs that emerged

after the collapseafter the collapse– the emergence of feminism within women’s the emergence of feminism within women’s

studies programs and women’s crisis centers studies programs and women’s crisis centers dedicated to ending violence against womendedicated to ending violence against women

– example of state paternalism: example of state paternalism: Putin used oil revenues to support social services, Putin used oil revenues to support social services,

including state agencies providing assistance to including state agencies providing assistance to victims of domestic violencevictims of domestic violence

state-approved NGOs, mostly those that provide state-approved NGOs, mostly those that provide social services, receive funding through the Public social services, receive funding through the Public ChamberChamber

Global Gender Gap

Report 2006Report 2006(data from 2004)(data from 2004)[1][1]

Report 2007 Report 2007 (data from (data from 2005)2005)

Report 2008 Report 2008 (data from (data from 2006)2006)

Rank (out Rank (out of 115)of 115)

ScoreScore Rank Rank (out (out of of 123)123)

ScoreScore Rank Rank (out (out of of 129)129)

ScoreScore

RussiaRussia 4949 .6770.6770 4545 .6866.6866 4242 .6994.6994

USAUSA 23 23 .7042.7042 3131 .7002.7002 2727 .7179.7179

0 to 1 scale: 0=inequality, 1=equality.

[1] World Economic Forum. 2008. “The Global Gender Gap Index 2008 Rankings; Comparisons with 2007 and 2006,” online at http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gendergap/rankings2008.xls (last accessed October 16, 2009).

The “woman question” has The “woman question” has become the “man question” become the “man question”

the problems: huge number of deaths of the problems: huge number of deaths of working-age men from respiratory and working-age men from respiratory and circulatory diseases and alcohol-related circulatory diseases and alcohol-related accidents and violenceaccidents and violence

contributing to what the state sees as contributing to what the state sees as the “demographic problem,” the rapidly the “demographic problem,” the rapidly shrinking ethnic-Russian populationshrinking ethnic-Russian population

Social problems todaySocial problems todaywww.nationmaster.comwww.nationmaster.comhttp://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gin_ind-economy-http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gin_ind-economy-

gini-indexgini-index

Population growth rate:Population growth rate:-0.484% (2007 est.) -0.484% (2007 est.)

Birth rate:Birth rate:10.92 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 10.92 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate:Death rate:16.04 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 16.04 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate:Net migration rate:0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:Life expectancy at birth:total population:total population: 65.87 years 65.87 years male:male: 59.12 years 59.12 years female:female: 73.03 years (2007 est.) 73.03 years (2007 est.)

Putin’s “masculinity Putin’s “masculinity reclamation project”reclamation project”

“Health like a habit”Photo by Johnson 2008

Also, “Man like Putin” song

ADDITIONAL RESOURCESADDITIONAL RESOURCES

women in parliaments database, women in parliaments database, http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htmhttp://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm

global gender gap reports, global gender gap reports, http://www.weforum.org/en/Communities/http://www.weforum.org/en/Communities/Women%20Leaders%20and%20GenderWomen%20Leaders%20and%20Gender%20Parity/GenderGapNetwork/index.htm%20Parity/GenderGapNetwork/index.htm

Stop Violence Against Women Russia Stop Violence Against Women Russia page, page, http://www.stopvaw.org/Russian_Federatiohttp://www.stopvaw.org/Russian_Federation.html n.html

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON RUSSIA IN GENERALRUSSIA IN GENERAL

Russian Analytical DigestRussian Analytical Digest www.res.ethz.ch/analysis/radwww.res.ethz.ch/analysis/rad

Richard Sakwa’s Richard Sakwa’s Russia Politics and SocietyRussia Politics and Society (on google books): key text, includes full (on google books): key text, includes full 1996 version, and previews the more 1996 version, and previews the more recent versions (includes maps)recent versions (includes maps)

JRL Research & Analytical SupplementJRL Research & Analytical Supplement (online at (online at http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/jrl-http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/jrl-ras.cfm): summarizes the recent literature ras.cfm): summarizes the recent literature on Russia in layperson languageon Russia in layperson language