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Comparative > Russia Notes > Flashcards

Russia Notes Flashcards

0
Q

When did Imperial era of Russian history end?

A

1917

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1
Q

How many political systems has Russia had in the last 100 years?

A

3

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2
Q

What form of economy and governance did Imperial Russia have?

A 
Absolute monarchy (tsars)
Feudal economy
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3
Q

When did Communist Russia collapse?

A

1991

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4
Q

What forms of governance and economy did Communist Russia exhibit?

A

Communist dictators

Command economy

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5
Q

What form of government does Russia currently have?

A

Democracy

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6
Q

Which position holds the most peer in modern Russia, and which type of economy does it have?

A

President

Free-market, capitalist economy

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7
Q

In which direction is the Russian political system gravitating?

A

Towards communist-style authoritarianism

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8
Q

Describe the geography of Russia and its significance.

A

Flat, open terrain with lots of border making it easier to invade

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9
Q

Who has invaded Russia historically and when did they invade?

A

Mongols, 13th century
Napoleon (French), 1812
Germany, WWI & WWII
American threat during Cold War

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10
Q

In the post-Cold War Era, what has Russia felt is the greatest threat to its borders?

A

NATO expansion into Eastern Europe

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11
Q

Why has Russia traditionally gone about about empire building?

A

To create a buffer zone against invasion.

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12
Q

Which territories/countries has Russia historically pursued for protection, and for each country where has the threat emanated?

A 
Europe:
-Ukraine
-Poland
Asia:
-Siberia
-Korea
-Afghanistan
-other Muslim states (Chechnya)
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13
Q

Why do older generations resent American business and culture penetrating Russia, and why did feudalism last so long in Russia?
(1 answer)

A

Russia has historically participated in self-imposed isolation from the west

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14
Q

What is a soviet-era example of Russian isolationism?

A

The “Iron Curtain”

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15
Q

Why was Communism so popular in Russia initially?

A

Marxism reinforced the Russia anti-western sentiment; positing that the capitalist west would fail. Soviet communism more a message of nationality than equality.

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16
Q

Give examples of autocratic periods of rule throughout Russian history

A
  • Monarchy under the Kings of Moscow
  • Imperialism under the Tsars
  • Communist Totalitarianism under the Premiers
  • near autocratic democracy under the Presidents (Putin)
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17
Q

What was “the Potemkin Trick?”

A

Creation of fake villages by rural prince Potemkin during the 1700’s in an effort to impress the Tsarina, Catherine the Great

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18
Q

What are some examples of Soviet-era governmental deception?

A

Tours for westerners that were vary structured and showed only the very best that the Soviet Union had to offer
Proletariat belief that their needs made a difference on national policy

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19
Q

What affect did competition within the Soviet Government have?

A

The creation of a lasting legacy of corruption

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20
Q

What are modern examples of Russian corruption?

A

Corporate strong-arming, monopolies, mafia warfare, and greed within the government

21
Q

Give examples of corruption in the Yeltsin administration following the 1996 campaign

A

Administrative positions, special treatment, and subsidies granted to bankers, merchants, media moguls, and corporate heads

22
Q

Who was Vladimir Lenin?

A

Russian exiled to Germany, who was sent back during WW1 to stir up trouble in an attempt to pull Russia out of the war

23
Q

What did the Bolsheviks claim to be creating?

A

A state without private property where workers would control the means of production

24
Q

Why did Lenin decide to use the feudalist-era soviets?

A

They would appear to be grassroots communist organizations but in actuality would be a vehicle through which he could disseminate policy

25
Q

What were the advantages of Lenin’s use of the Soviets?

A
  • made govt. popular
  • made it easy to find new leaders
  • gave the appearance of putting politics in the hands of the average citizens
  • easy to include in the chain of command
26
Q

What bureaucratic problems did the Communist regime face?

A
  • flow of information->policy->directives was too slow
  • difficulties with resource distribution
  • local bureaucracy resisted policies; looking out for local interests
27
Q

Which economic problems were faced by the communist regime?

A
  • low quality goods
  • Reality of world market made it difficult for Russia to dispense its goods to satellite states
  • not setup for increased levels of long term military expenditures
28
Q

How did Premier attain and maintain position?

A

Chosen by Politburo and held office until he was no longer supported by politburo (generally ruled until death)

29
Q

What events led to Gorbachev’s Premiership?

A
  1. Brezhnev’s death in 1982 after 18 years of service
  2. Andropov’s death in 1984
  3. Chernenko’s death in 1985
    4 Gorbachev chosen for being youngest member of Politburo in an effort to avoid another leader’s death
30
Q

Why did Gorbachev’s selection bring about the end of the CPSU?

A

Gorbachev was a younger and therefore not a communist hardliner, so he was open to reforms

31
Q

Which economic reforms did Gorbachev institute?

A
  • opened up trade with the west

- admitted to the failure of socialist economic policy, and permitted the privatization/incorporation of industry

32
Q

What reforms did Gorbachev bring about in 1987?

A

He allowed for popular election to local Soviet positions

33
Q

What reforms did Gorbachev enact in 1988?

A

He provided for elections to the Supreme Soviet (federal legislature) and ended explicit party control of governmental institutions

34
Q

Which Soviet states were part of the first wave of Soviet republics to buck communism?

A

Poland, East Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia

35
Q

How did Gorbachev respond to the former satellite states disavowing communism?

A

He officially supported their actions

36
Q

Which Soviet Republics were part of the second wave to disavow Communism?

A

Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Byeloruss, Georgia

37
Q

How do the Communist hard liners respond to Gorbachev’s allowance of the bucking of communism by the former Soviet states?

A

They stage a coup

38
Q

What is the response to the communist country?

A

100,000’s of pro-democracy rallied in Red-square led by Yeltsin who through his actions makes a power grab

39
Q

What is Gorbachev’s final action was Premier?

A

dissolve the CPSU

40
Q

In the years leading up to the fall of the Soviet Union who emerged as a strong voice for democracy and capitalism in the People’s Congress of Deputies?

A

Boris Yeltsin

41
Q

Compare and contrast Boris Yeltsin and Mikhael Gorbachev

A

Both men wanted democracy and capitalism for Russia, but Yeltsin wanted rapid change while Gorbachev wanted gradual change

42
Q

How did Gorbachev make himself look like a rank leader during the final days of the Soviet Union and what was the affect of his actions?

A

Gorbachev allowed the smaller Soviet Republics to remove their communist regimes which precipitated a Russian coup attempt against Gorbachev

43
Q

What stopped the Communist Russian Coup?

A

100,000’s of pro-democracy protesters in Red Square led by Yeltsin rallying for Gorbachev

44
Q

Following Gorbachev’s dissolution of the CPSU who takes over leadership of Russia?

A

Boris Yeltsin

45
Q

During the outset of the post-Soviet era, which international group does Russia join?

A

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

46
Q

What are Yeltsin’s main goals as president?

A

Bring real democracy to Russia, and bring about a capitalist economic system

47
Q

How did Yeltsin go about bringing Democracy to Russia?

A

He began by devolving much authority from the central government to the regional governments

48
Q

How did Yeltsin interact with Parliament during his time in office?

A

He was respectful of the Parliament’s authority and worked to compromise with the opposition

49
Q

How did Yeltsin interact with the media?

A

Yeltsin was very tolerant of the media and permitted them to be highly critical of him

Comparative (4 decks)

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