comparative political systems russia mrs. vanwart

Comparative Political SystemsComparative Political Systems

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Mrs. VanWartMrs. VanWart

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Official name: The Russian Federation (1991)

Capital: Moscow

Population: Approx. 145M

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http://historysshadow.wordpress.com/tag/stalin/

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early political history

•Ivan the Terrible 1547 first tsar

•Romanov dynasty (1613-1917) --Michael I thru Nicholas II

•Peter the Great 1721 --began modernization•Catherine the Great (1762-96) -- “golden age”

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Bolshevik Revolution (1917)

•March 1917: --Nicholas II abdicates (later assassinated) --Alexander Kerensky (prov. govt)

•Nov 1917: --Vladimir Lenin & Communists come to power --Soviet Union (USSR) established (1922-1991)

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Vladimir Lenin

Bolshevik leader

1st Premier of Soviet Union

Influenced by Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels

Power grab after his death (1924)

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Karl Marx

“The history of all … society is the history of class struggle”

Advocated overthrow of capitalism (socialism, then pure communism)

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Joseph Stalin (“man of steel”)

•Took power after Lenin’s death (1924)

•Eliminated opposition through purges

•Modernized USSR; military superpower -- forced collectivization of farms -- rapid industrialization

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USSR – Post WWII

•Controlled much of Eastern Europe -- installed Communist govts -- promise of democratic govts not fulfilled -- “iron curtain” divided east & west Europe

•Cold War – tensions with US; no direct fighting (1947-1991) --US policy of “containment”

“iron curtain” separating Europe (Churchill)

Identical zones in Berlin

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Soviet Government Structure

•15 republics (by nationality mostly) -- Russia largest (70% land; 50% people)

-- soviets (councils)

-- “the Kremlin” (Soviet seat of power) “kremlin” = castle, fortress

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Soviet Government Structure

•Soviet Constitution

-- basic freedoms not guaranteed -- the state’s interests superseded all

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Soviet Government Structure

•Legislature

-- Supreme Soviet -- basically “rubber-stamped” Communist decrees

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Soviet Government Structure

•Communist Party (“CPSU”)

-- one-party rule (1917-1990) -- Politburo elected by Central Committee -- headed by General Secretary

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Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985)

•perestroika: “restructuring”(political & economic) •glasnost = “openness” (tolerance of dissent & freedom of expression)

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Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985)

•Legislature:-elections: competitive, multi-party

•Presidency:-new position created (head of state vs. head of party)

•CPSU:-lost power by 1990

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Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985)

•Reforms (inadvertently) swept Communist govts from power in E. Europe

--Poland 1988 (Solidarity movement)

--Hungary, E.Germany, Czech., Romania, Bulgaria followed

-- “Fall” of Berlin Wall (Nov. 1989)

“death strip”

EAST

WEST

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Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985)

•coup attempt (Aug. 1991)

-hardliners put MG under house arrest in Crimea; declare themselves in charge

-Boris Yeltsin (Pres of Russia) led opposition to coup --support of public, military --MG restored to power

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Boris Yeltsin stands atop tank in Red Square

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Mikhail Gorbachev’s Reforms (1985)

•Soviet republics declared independence -- signaled collapse of Soviet Union

•Gorbachev resigned Dec. 25, 1991

•Yeltsin became 1st President of Russian Federation

Mikhail Gorbachev instituted reforms such as perestroika and glasnost because he believed:

a) the USSR should “fall” for its own good, then re-emerge stronger than ever;

b) the USSR needed to change its ways in order to survive socially, politically, and economically;

c) maintaining control over the Eastern Bloc countries was burdensome to the USSR and this was a way to encourage them to declare independence

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Russian Government Today

•Constitution of 1993 --includes free housing (low income), medical care, higher education (competitive basis)

•38-3. Able-bodied children over 18 years of age shall take care of disabled parents.

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Russian Government Today

Executive Branch

•Chief of State: President Vladimir Putin (May 2012) (6-year term; no VP) --Putin’s 3rd term (non-consecutive)

•Head of Govt: Prime Minister Dmitriy Medvedev (appointed by President; confirmed by Duma)

President Putin Prime Minister Medvedev

(previously their positions were switched for 6 years)

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Russian Government Today

Legislature (“Federal Assembly”)

•Council of the Federation (upper house)--178 members (2 x 89 regions)

•State Duma (lower house)--450 members (aka “deputies”) --more powerful --may be dissolved (a la Br. House of Commons)

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Russian Government Today

Judiciary (“Constitutional Court”)

•19 judges-- elected to 12-year terms