AP Comparative Government & Politics Study Guide: Russia Jacob Martinez Period 4 VOCABULARY Concepts: Democratic Centralism – Leninist organizational structure that concentrates power in the hands of the party elite Glasnost – under Gorbachev, Soviet policies that opened up the political system and allowed for freedom of expression Nomenklatura – Soviet system of lists that facilitated the CPSU’s appointment of trusted people to key positions Oligarch – business and political leaders with what some think is undue influence in Russia Perestroika – ill-fated program to reform and open up the Soviet economy in the late 1980’s (also under Gorbachev) Power Ministries – the most important departments in the Russian government Privatization – the selling off of state-owned companies Purges – the systematic removal of people from a party, state, or other office (used by Stalin) Shock Therapy – policies in formerly communist countries that envisage as rapid a shift to a market economy as possible People: Brezhnev, Leonid – General Secretary of the CPSU, 1964-82; largely responsible for the stagnation of the USSR Gorbachev, Mikhail – head of the CPSU and last president of the Soviet Union; came up with Glasnost and Perestroika, wanting democratization in Russian. Khrushchev, Nikita – successor of Stalin who decided to reform Russia from 1953-1964 where he was ousted due to the Cuban missile crisis Lenin, V.I. – the architect of the Bolshevik revolution and the first leader of the Soviet Union Putin, Vladimir – Russian president since 2000 Stalin, Joseph – ruthless leader of the CPSU and Soviet Union, 1924-53 (killed 20 million-60 million people, used purges and gulags) Yeltsin, Boris – former reformist communist leader and president of Russia (1991-2000, first president of Russian Federation) Acronyms: CPRF – Communist Party of the Russian Federation CPSU – Communist Party of the Soviet Union KGB – the Soviet Secret Police (Putin was a part of this) Organizations, Places, and Events Bolsheviks – Lenin’s faction of the Russian Social Democratic Party; later came to mean anyone who subscribed to his views and/or organization Central Committee – supposedly the most important body in a communist party; its influence declined as it grew in size and the party needed daily leadership Cheka – the secret police in communist Russia Comintern – organization that tried to promote communism in other places around the world Federation Council – the largely powerless upper house of the Russian parliament Five-year plan – in the former Soviet Union, the period for which GOSPLAN developed goals and quotas GOSPLAN – the Soviet central planning agency appointed by Stalin Mensheviks – the smaller and more moderate faction of the Russian Social Democratic Party before WW1 Politburo – generic term used to describe the leadership of a communist regime (small, older, elite group of men) Provisional Government – temporary government that came in to moderate Russia before democracy finally came in after the fall of communism Russian Federation – formal name given to Russia Secret Speech – given by Krushchev in 1957, apologizing for Stalin’s leadership; seen as the start of the “thaw” Secretariat – oversaw the party business AKA bureaucratic leaders of the communist party State Duma – lower house of the Russian parliament Third International – Moscow-dominated organization of communist parties around the world between the two World Wars United Russia – the political party led by current Russian president, Vladimir Putin Yabloko – one of the leading reformist parties in Russia BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT Executive: PRESIDENT .The most powerful by far .Current President is VLADIMIR PUTIN .Used to be called Secretary General in the former Soviet Union -Very similar to president -Gorbachev was the last Secretary General .The president is ELECTED -Uses a two-ballot system -If no one gets more than 50% of the vote, there is a run-off election .Prime Minister is also included, but is APPOINTED by the president .Can be in office for two CONSECUTIVE six-year terms .Powers include: issuing decrees, can dissolve the Duma, and he runs an extremely centralized administration giving him ultimate authority over nearly everything Legislative: STATE DUMA & FEDERATION COUNCIL .Bicameral legislature known as the Federal Assembly .Federation Council -Upper House w/ less power -APPOINTED by territorial officers; terms are set by the territories -Cannot stop laws but can delay them -Consists of 176 members, 2 people per republic/state AND per region (currently 21 republics, and 67 regions) .State Duma -Lower house w/ more power -Gives “permission” to who’s in power -Consists of 450 members, ELECTED by proportional representation -Usually good for small parties, but NOT in Russia because the needed percentage to win is too high (7%) -The legislature CAN override presidential veto Judicial: SUPREME COURT (115 Members) and Constitutional Court (19 Members) .Typically less powerful than other branches .Supreme Court/Constitutional Court -Deals w/ laws conflicting with the constitution .Members/judges are APPOINTED by the president and heads of the two houses of parliament .No term limits .Civil Liberties -Right to speak, right to a lawyer, etc. (BASIC RIGHTS) -People who live in the cities tend to have more rights than those in urban areas SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE Peter the Great – early 1700’s .Attempts to westernize/modernize Russia .Not the president, but the Tsar/Czar (monarch) .Had absolute power Alexander II – 1880’s .Attempts to reform/globalize Russia .Gets assassinated because people didn’t want change .His son, Alexander III, becomes leader and doesn’t change anything Nicholas II – early 1900’s .The last Tsar/Czar .1906 – Russia attacks Japan (Russo-Japan War) .Russia loses and Nicholas looks weak so he and his family are killed Lenin – 1921-24 .Marxist and communist (1st communist leader of Russia) .Uses democratic centralism .Bolsheviks (his people) .NEP (New Economic Policy) -pushed for privatization Stalin – 1924-53 .“Man of Steel” .Killed between 20 mil-60 mil of his own people .GOSPLAN – government agency -Sets up the first 5-year plans .Comintern -Tries to promote communism around the world using money and propaganda .Purges & Gulags -When he specifically killed political figures -Gulags = forced labor camps Krushchev – 1953-64 .Decided to reform and change Russia -Wants to get along with other countries -Russian people thinks this will make them look weak .Secret Speech .Cuban Missile Crisis -Russia moves nukes into Cuba to attack the U.S. quickly -Pres. Kennedy puts of a naval blockade in from of Cuba and Russia backs down -Krushchev looks incredibly weak and is kicked out Brezhnev – 1964-82 .No reforms .Economy goes down/No real improvement whatsoever .Established the Politburo Gorbachev .Reformer who tried to change Russia but they resist change .Young leader/updated image .Glasnost -Opens up the government/transparency .Perestroika -Opens up the economy -Least successful .Democratization .Foreign Policy -Unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing -No more nuke testing because it is too much money Boris Yeltsin .First president of Russian Federation Putin (Current President, in his 3rd term) .Super popular -Won two consecutive terms after Yeltsin w/ majority -Won again after Medvedev’s first and only term .Former member of KGB .Has NEVER had a run-off election .Limits freedom (attacking the media) .Oligarchs were put in prison for resisting Putin’s policies; others left in fear .Putin then handpicks Medvedev as next President -Putin takes the Prime Minister position where many people believe he still had power ECONOMICS .Not Good .Shock Therapy -Rapid shift from communism/nationalism to capitalism/privatization -Didn’t really work because they don’t like change .Bottom-Up -They privatized the small businesses first THEN bigger businesses .Ruble = their currency -In 2012, 31 rubles = 1 U.S. dollar .GDP (per person) -In 2012, GDP = $17,500 per year .Poverty Level -In 2012, 30% DEEP POVERTY .Unemployment Rate -In 2012, 5.5% .Tons of oil and natural gas .Economy does not compare well w/ other European countries -They don’t like change so they don’t reform their economic policies .Corruption -More corruption associated with business and economy, not politics and government SOCIAL .Population = 145 million people -6th largest pop. .Diversity -Lots of diversity -Lead to ethnic fighting -Chechnya = sort of like Biafra, wanted to separate from Russia (Muslim area) .Life Expectancy -In 2012, 69-years old -76 for women, 64 for men -One of the only places where life expectancy is decreasing -Only place where AIDS isn’t a factor of decreasing .Lack of productivity -People don’t work hard -No incentives to work hard .Religion -#1 religions group is Orthodox Christians (conservative Christians) .Hardliners -People who would rather go back to communism/the Soviet Union -They want POWER AND PRESTIGE so they can be a superpower again .Lack of Legitimacy -No trust in the government -Government isn’t very transparent and censorship is an issue .Voter Turnout -Higher percentage than in the U.S. .Suspicion of Power and Low Expectations -Low trust of who’s in power -Low expectations of leaders and the improvement of lives .Powerless -People feel like victims -They feel like they can’t change anything .NGO’s (Non Governmental Organizations) -Consist of people who try to do good things in the world -They have to register w/ the GOVERNMENT (Ironic?) OTHER Political Parties .United Russia -Putin’s party -In ’07 election, they won 315 seats in the Duma .Just Russia -Follows Putin on mostly every vote .CPRF (previously CPSU) -Most organized party -Have become less powerful because their members are dying .Yabloko -chief reform party -a lot of people who join are intellectuals (people who are academically elite) .Union of Right Forces -To the right – conservatives, business, capitalism, etc. .Liberal Democrats -To the left