Russia Notes

Question 1

What political ideologies are connected to Russia?

Answer 1

totalitarianism
communism
illiberal democracy

Question 2

general facts

Answer 2

• largest country
• 73% urban
• European, Islamic, and Asian

Question 3

Process of modernizing Russia?

Answer 3

• democratization
  -1993 constitution
• shock therapy to fix economy: privatization of companies, cut welfare

Question 4

Putin presidential history

Answer 4

1. first elected in 2000 as President
2. serves two terms and steps down in line with Constitution in 2008
3. elected as Prime Minister in 2008
4. Putin elected as President again in 2012
5. currently serving until 2036

Question 5

Putin’s ideologies

Answer 5

• made Russia conservative: anti LGBTQ and anti-West
• laws made it consolidate his power
• most powerful leader in the world

Question 6

overall structure:

Answer 6

• 85 federal entities
• have oblasts (provinces) and federal republics (more power and individual cultures)
• asymmetrical federalism

Question 7

How did Putin crack down on regional autonomy?

Answer 7

2007 reforms:
- power vertical: he controls everything
- Super Districts
- changed governor elections: now nominated by Putin and conformed by regional legislature
- changes in Federation Council appointments: 2 reps for each region, one elected by governor and one elected by legislature

Question 8

what is Russia’s semi-presidential system?

Answer 8

one president (head of state) and one prime minister (head of government)

president stronger

Question 9

outlines of presidency

Answer 9

• directly elected with majority or two round model
• six year terms
• limit of two consecutive terms

Question 10

powers of president

Answer 10

• appoints PM, cabinet, and governors
• issue decrees with force of law
• dissolve duma
• call state of emergency
• set referendums
• can be impeached, never happened
• Putin basically does whatever he wants

Question 11

how can the Prime Minister be removed?

Answer 11

can be removed with 2 votes of no confidence in three months

Question 12

what is the legislature called?

Answer 12

the Federal Assembly

Question 13

how many deputies in the duma?

Answer 13

450

Question 14

how long are duma member’s terms?

Answer 14

5 years

Question 15

How do duma elections work?

Answer 15

225 are elected proportionally
225 are elected through single member districts (SMD)/FPTP

Question 16

what does the duma do?

Answer 16

• pass bills
• approve budget
• approve appointments

Question 17

Federation Council purpose?

Answer 17

represent regions

Question 18

how many representatives are there in the Federation Council?

Answer 18

2 from each 85 federal sub-units of governments

Question 19

powers of the federation council?

Answer 19

• delay legislation
• approve appointments
• change boundaries among republics
• ratify the use of armed forces
• appoint and remove judges
• cannot amend legislation

Question 20

how many members on the constitutional court?

Answer 20

19

Question 21

who appoints and approves the members of the constitutional court?

Answer 21

appointed by president

approved by Federation Council

Question 22

judicial review?

Answer 22

have it, but will not interfere with president’s will

Question 23

what cases do they handle?

Answer 23

cases regarding federal versus regional constitutionality claims

Question 24

the Supreme Court does what?

Answer 24

final court of appeals for civil and criminal law, no judicial review

Question 25

what blocks rule of law in russia?

Answer 25

corruption and Putin’s authoritarianism

oligarchs abuse system

citizens jailed to maintain order

Question 26

linkage institutions in Russia?

Answer 26

weak due to lack of freedom of expression

Question 27

state corporatism definition

Answer 27

state determines group power and forces people into state-controlled groups

weak civil society as a result, little free thinking

Question 28

media in russia?

Answer 28

• controlled by the state
• 140/178 in press freedom
• still ways to access global media

Question 29

what is the dominant political party in russia?

Answer 29

United Russia

Question 30

United Russia ideologies

Answer 30

• pro putin
• liberal, conservative
• pragmatic
• anti-radical

Question 31

communist party of Russia ideologies

Answer 31

• strongest opposition party
• largely supported by older, rural citizens

Question 32

A Just Russia

Answer 32

• left of russia, support putin

Question 33

liberal democratic party

Answer 33

• anti western
• supported by working class men and military
• strong man party

Question 34

social class divide

Answer 34

oligarchs vs working class

Question 35

rural versus urban

Answer 35

73% live in cities: more educated on western policies

Question 36

deference to authority

Answer 36

personalistic authority, highly centralized leadership (tradition)

citizens give up their personal freedoms because they feel its easier to let the government do as it pleases (plus don’t have a good system for change)

Question 37

do Russian citizens trust the government?

Answer 37

no because most of population alienates from political systems over time, but they never act against it

Question 38

slavophiles versus westerners

Answer 38

• slavophiles rooted in Russian history, eastern ideals
• nationalism rooted in communism and post communism ideologies,
• defense of russia interests, strong military

Question 39

how are voting rates?

Answer 39

high voting rates, but elections shown to be rigged

Question 40

protests in russia

Answer 40

• heavily restricted
• cannot interfere with flow of daily life or certain locations altogether
• must notify in specified advanced period, usually not approved