Politics in Russia Chapter 11 PDF

Politics in Russia Chapter 11  Historical Legacies Tsarist Regime: autocracy, absolutism, patrimonialism, Orthodox Christianity Communist Revolution and Soviet Order Vladimir Lenin—1917 Russian Communist Party Joseph Stalin—1924 centralized power further Mikh...

Politics in Russia Chapter 11  Historical Legacies Tsarist Regime: autocracy, absolutism, patrimonialism, Orthodox Christianity Communist Revolution and Soviet Order Vladimir Lenin—1917 Russian Communist Party Joseph Stalin—1924 centralized power further Mikhail Gorbachev—1985 Reforms: glasnost & perestroika Political institutions of the transition period: Demise of the USSR Political institutions of the transition period: Russia 1990–1993 Figure 11.1 Timeline of Russian Rulers Since 1917  Current Policy Challenges Oil revenue up sharply 2000–2008, then plummeted Russia’s GDP fell 8% “resource curse”—dependence on windfall from natural resource Severe demographic crisis Population is shrinking Dependent on migrant labor  The Contemporary Constitutional Order 1993 constitution combined elements of presidentialism and parliamentarism Separation of executive, legislative, judicial branches Federal division of power between central and regional levels of government Gave president wide power Figure 11.2: Structure of Russian Government  The Presidency (1 of 2) President appoints prime minister, government Has right to issue presidential decrees, which have force of law Prime minister primarily responsible for economic, social policy President oversees ministries, other bodies concerned with coercion, law enforcement, state security  The Presidency (2 of 2) President can dissolve parliament or dismiss government Head of state, commander of chief Security Council—chaired by president formulates policy in foreign & defense areas State Council—heads of regional governments Public Chamber 168 members from civic, sports, artistic, other NGOS deliberate on matters of public policy may diminish role of Parliament  The Government Senior echelon of leadership in executive branch Charged with formulating national policy economic and social corresponds to Cabinet in Western parliamentary systems not party government  The Parliament (1 of 2) Federal Assembly is bicameral Lower house: The (State) Duma Upper house: Federation Council Legislation originates in Duma Federal Council can pass, reject, call for formation of agreement commission to iron out differences If Duma rejects upper house’s changes, can override Federation Council by two-thirds vote and send bill directly to president Figure 11.3 The Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law  The Parliament (2 of 2) When bill clears parliament, goes to president for signature If president refuses to sign bill, returns to Duma Duma pass with amendments or override veto with two-thirds vote Federation Council must approve bill; simple majority if it approves president’s amendments or two-thirds to override president Executive–Legislative Relations  The Judiciary and Law Enforcement The Procuracy Comparable to prosecuting attorneys in U.S. Wide-ranging responsibilities, centralized hierarchy The Judiciary Unitary hierarchy: all are federal courts Supreme Commercial Court is highest appellate court, source of instruction, direction to lower courts Judges nominated by president, confirmed by Federation Council Ministry of Justice oversees court system, lacks authority over procuracy The Bar Advocates, comparable to defense attorneys in U.S.  The Constitutional Court 1993 Constitution provides for judicial review by Constitutional Court Presidential authority is challenge for court Central Government and Regions 80% of population ethnically Russian Ethnic minorities each no more than 4% Currently has 85 territorial units republics, districts, provinces, territories, cities Russian Political Culture in the Post-Soviet Period Centuries of autocratic rule Rapid, uneven improvement in education, living standards Exposure to Western standards of political life Contradictory values in contemporary political culture Sturdy core of democratic values Firm belief in need for strong state Disillusionment with democratization, market reforms Support individual rights, but less so for minorities Nostalgia for old order Figure 11.4 Political Trust  Political Socialization Education Orthodox Church Mass media Much less subject to direct state control than in Soviet era Authorities seek to use schools and media to build loyalty to state, leaders  Political Participation (1 of 2) Importance of social capital Scarce in Russia Participation in civic activity extremely limited Weakness of intermediate associations Since late 1980s, participation apart from voting saw surge followed by ebb Not psychologically disengaged or socially isolated Half Russian population reports reading national newspapers Vote in high proportions Prize the right to not participate  Political Participation (2 of 2) Elite Recruitment Institutional process in society by which people gain access to positions of influence, responsibility Soviet regime: Communist Party nomenklatura Today, mixture of career types  Interest Articulation: Between Statism, Corporatism and Pluralism NGOs Elements of corporatism Three examples of associational groups Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs League of Committees of Soldiers’ Mothers Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia New Sectors of Interest Many new associations More collective action by business, other sectors More bargaining over details of policy  The Dominant Party Regime Elections and Party Development From Multiparty system to Dominant Party Regime Polarization of Party System: 1980s–1990s a two-party system: LDPR & CPRF Building Party of Power: 1999–2000 Yeltsin successor: Putin 2003–2004 elections: pro-Putin party, Unity, renamed United Russia The 2011–2012 Election Cycle and the 2016 Duma Election Figure 11.6 Duma Party Seat Shares  Russia and the Resource Curse Stabilization: shock therapy Communism to Capitalism: heavy commitment of resources to military in Soviet Union complicated reform Privatization “Loans for shares” Consequences of privatization Unsustainable debt trap No strong institutional framework, no market economy Social Conditions Small minority became wealthy in 1990s High unemployment Figure 11.7 Russian State Budget Breakdown, 2016  Toward the Rule of Law? The Law-Governed State Gorbachev’s goal: make Soviet Union a law-governed state Obstacles to Rule of Law Abuse of legal institutions by political authorities Corruption Bribery  Russia and the International Community Has not fully embraced integration into international community (?) Has not accepted constraints of international law Expanded military presence in several former Soviet republics Post-communist transition has been difficult, incomplete