week 11

Question 1

President of Russia during the 1993 constitutional crisis; preferred confrontation; dissolved the Supreme Council.

Answer 1

Boris Yeltsin (1991-1999)

Question 2

American advisor who promoted shock therapy economic reforms in Russia. An American economist who advised post-Soviet Russia on economic reforms. He championed “shock therapy”—a rapid transition from a command economy to a market system, involving mass privatization, deregulation, and liberalization. Aimed to stabilize Russia’s economy, the policy resulted in hyperinflation, economic hardship, and massive inequality, contributing to the rise of the oligarch class and public distrust in Western involvement. Later distanced himself from the policy’s harsh outcomes, blaming political corruption and Western institutions.

Answer 2

Jeffrey Sachs

Question 3

U.S. Senator and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; supported Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction.

Answer 3

Richard Lugar

Question 4

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs under Yeltsin; pro-Western diplomat.

Answer 4

Andrey Kozyrev (1990-96)

Question 5

Russian diplomat and intelligence official; Middle East specialist; attempted compromise during Iraq War, friends with Saadam Hussein

Answer 5

Yevgeny Primakov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs (1996–1998)

Question 6

Former GDR officer; Yeltsin’s successor; initially pro-Western, elected president in 2000 and 2004.

Answer 6

Vladimir Putin 2000-2008, 2012+

Question 7

Russian oligarch arrested in 2003 by Putin, symbolizing crackdown on political dissent by wealthy elites.

Answer 7

Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Question 8

Standoff between Yeltsin and the Russian parliament; ended with a new constitution favoring presidential power.

Answer 8

1993 Russian Constitutional Crisis

Question 9

War in Chechnya

Answer 9

Conflict where Yeltsin sent troops to suppress Chechen independence; sparked domestic antiwar protests.

Question 10

US-led NATO air campaign over Serbia; worsened US-Russian relations.

Answer 10

NATO Bombing of Yugoslavia (1999)

Question 11

US left ___ Treaty in ___ year; Russia reacted mildly.

Answer 11

US Withdrawal from ABM Treaty (2001)

Question 12

Democratic uprisings in post-Soviet states in the 2000s, often seen as US-backed.

Answer 12

color revolutions

Question 13

Contested election led to the Orange Revolution; second vote gave victory to pro-Western candidate.

Answer 13

2004 Ukraine Presidential Election

Question 14

US recognized Kosovo’s independence; Serbia, Russia, Spain, and the UK expressed opposition.

Answer 14

Kosovo Independence (2008)

Question 15

Russia intervened in Georgia to defend territories it recognized as independent.

Answer 15

2008 Russo-Georgian War

Question 16

First McDonald’s opened in Moscow.

Answer 16

1990

Question 17

Khodorkovsky arrested

Answer 17

2003

Question 18

US invaded Iraq.

Answer 18

2003

Question 19

Putin’s speech in ____ city during _____ year, criticizing US global dominance.

Answer 19

2007, Munich

Question 20

w. bush years office

Answer 20

2001-2009

Question 21

obama years in office

Answer 21

2009-2017

Question 22

served as director of the National Security Agency from 1985 to 1988.
Wrote an article critiquing U.S. policies toward Russia, argues that Russia is unlikely to develop into a liberal democracy, and outlines reasons why Russia remains a ‘weak state.’

Answer 22

Odom

Question 23

clinton years in office

Answer 23

1993-2001

Question 24

Established a semi-presidential system in Russia with strong executive powers. Later, Putin’s centralization of power violated many of its democratic principles, including freedom of the press and institutional checks on the presidency.

Answer 24

Yeltsin Constitution of 1993

Question 25

Once institutional patterns are established, they are difficult to change. Soviet institutions and practices continue to influence post-Soviet Russia’s political and economic structures. The oligarchs and bureaucrats who benefitted from post-Soviet reforms have little incentive to change the system.

Answer 25

path dependence

Question 26

Russia’s inability to effectively collect taxes reflects its institutional weakness. These types of states tend to rely on indirect taxes and exhibit high levels of corruption. Putin’s reliance on “statism,” intimidation, and coercion perpetuates this

Answer 26

weak state syndrome

Question 27

russian annexation of crimea

Answer 27

2014

Question 28

1975, A landmark agreement signed by 35 nations—including the U.S. and USSR—establishing key principles on territorial integrity, human rights, and peaceful dispute resolution. It laid the groundwork for post-Cold War European security dialogue and later inspired the creation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Answer 28

Helsinki Final Act

Question 29

Russia's perferred alternative to NATO

Answer 29

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

Question 30

Served as Russia’s president while Vladimir Putin acted as prime minister, though Putin remained the dominant figure in Russian politics. He was the face of the Obama-era "Reset" in U.S.–Russia relations, appearing more liberal and cooperative. His support for Western interventions (e.g., in Libya) and outreach to the U.S. were ultimately curtailed by Putin.

Answer 30

Dmitry Medvedev 2008-2012

Question 31

obama's attempt to reset with russia

Answer 31

New START Treaty (2010), Northern Distribution Network carrying NATO troops and materiel to and from Afghanistan over Russian territory;

Question 32

russian gov function that said they impeached Yeltsin, but at the same time yeltsin said this thing was dissolved

Answer 32

Supreme Council

Question 33

A U.S. initiative aimed at securing and dismantling weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union after its collapse. The program provided funding and expertise to decommission nuclear warheads, secure fissile materials, and convert military sites to civilian use. It was a rare area of successful post-Cold War U.S.–Russia cooperation, though later hindered by growing mistrust, with Russia eventually limiting U.S. access

Answer 33

Nunn-lugar cooperative threat reduction 1991

Question 34

color revolutions in 3 countries

Answer 34

ukraine “orange revolution”, georgia’s “revolution of roses”, kyrgyzstan “tulip revolution”

Question 35

A former NSA contractor who leaked classified information exposing U.S. global surveillance programs. After fleeing to Hong Kong, he arrived in Moscow where he was granted asylum by the Russian government. His presence in Russia intensified U.S.–Russia tensions, especially after the Obama administration demanded his extradition. Putin framed him as a “human rights defender,” using the case to challenge U.S. hypocrisy on freedom and transparency.

Answer 35

Snowden