Chapter 12: Putin Flashcards
When did Yeltsin resign ?
31st December 1999
How much % did Putin win in the 2000 election ?
53 %
How did Yeltsin resignation led to Putin into power ?
-his heart problems led to be hospitalised for several months
-large amounts of money was stolen and oligarchs profits were sent abroad
-there was a financial crisis leading Russia to a collapse
-he got less public support
How did his own experience contribute to Putin come into power ?
-he served 15 years as a foreign intelligence officer for the kGB
-worked for St Petersburg’s major to attract foreign investment to the city before moving to Moscow to work for Yeltsin
-in 1998 he was head of the FSB although there were more experience and senior candidates than him for the role
-he was the 2nd president of Russia in May 2000 and oversaw a recovery in Russian economy fulled by high oil prices
How did the media contribute to Putin come into power ?
-Putin appeared much ore often on screen than his others candidates plus was seen as acting more presidential which gained him with more support
-the Russian media depended on the state support and that support came with strings attached during the presidential election meaning that the media was very much pro-Putin
How did the electoral system contribute to Putin come into power ?
-there was evidence of faults in the election process that many have favoured Putin
How did public support contribute to Putin come into power ?
-regional governors through their support behind Putin because of advanced warning that he was intended to directly appoint governors to their jobs rather than being elected which happened in 2005
-elected by the people which meant he had a strong mandate
How did Putin bring back the country into recovery ?
-the prices of oil rose on the western market and oil exports provided approx. 50% of the revenues for the state budget
-they closed down some of the outdated factories which had become a burden on the economy
-the government reformed the tax code, lowered taxes on businesses and introduced a single social tax to finance pensions and medical insurance
-Russian GDP grew from -5% in 1988 to +10% in 2000
-the economic success attracted foreign investors greatly benefitted from the extraordinary rises in the Russian stock market
-the principles of Putin government followed by e.g reform and liberalisation were broadly popular
-the economy grew from between 6 to 7% during the first decade of the century
-the improvement of living standards for a large segment of the population was impressive
-unemployment went down from 13% in 1999 to 9% in 2000
-50% of Russian exports earning came from oil in 2000, compared to 37% in 1995
-inflation dropped from 9% in 1999 to 5% in 2000
-Disposal income went up 12% from 1999
Evidence that there was still a crisis on Russia ?
-the devaluation of the rouble in 1998 made Russian goods cheaper on the world market and there was now a small economic boom
-almost half 47% of all the country’s wealth was in the hands of 20% of the population meaning there was still a huge wealth gap
-the country still had huge foreign debt $128 billion (51% of the GDP)
What did the Putin do with the media and propaganda to bring political stability back ?
-reporting of public survey was made less frequent
-national TV or newspaper were to be taken down if they criticised Putin style of leadership
-increased positive media so public was happy and there was no opposition
What did Putin do with political parties and expression to bring back political stability ?
-didn’t believe in a multi party system was needed to represent all Russians
-2007 election only had seven parties competing which only 4 received support to be able to participate in the duma however they were never acquired prestige so therefore Putin would face less opposition
What did Putin do to the oligarchs ?
-he wanted to restore the authority of the state by putting the oligarchs under pressure to act in line with kremlin since they had many of Russia biggest business
Why was Putin democracy called an iliberal democracy ?
-this was due to him maintaining the outwards form of democracy such as having election regularly, political parties and a functioning legislature but this was ultimately powerless as he never intended to introduce genuine democracy
-the increased power of the state over society was the dominant feature of the new regime by gaining control of significant parts of the media and increasing his own power
Why was Putin compared to previos soviet leader such as Brezhnev and Stalin ?
-he was compared to Brezhnev because of the way it produced rising living of standards in return for public acceptance of an authoritarian style of rule and also Stalin because of Putin suspicion of western intentions towards his country and his hard line public persona
