The Evolution of the Russian State: From Lenin to Putin

1. Evolution of the Russian State

2. Vladimir Lenin • Leader of Bolshevik Revolution (1917) • Marxism-Leninism • Argued that a party of professional revolutionaries was needed to lead the proletariat (working class) in overthrowing the bourgeoisie (upper class) • He termed this the “revolutionary vanguard”

3. Stalinism • Stalin placed Communist Party (CPSU) at center of control • Leaders identified through nomenklatura • Central Committee: 300 party/govt. leaders • Politburo: group of 12 men from the Central Committee who ran the country • All government agencies under their control • General Secretary: head of the Politburo, “dictator” of the country • Stalin was General Secretary from 1927–1953

4. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power in USSR • Authority in Soviet Union came from the Politburo of the Communist Party (CPSU) • Politburo – center of policy-making power in USSR • Nomenklatura – Soviet system of lists that facilitated the CPSU’s appointment of trusted people to key positions • ex.) Politburo members

5. Stalinism II • Collectivization & Industrialization • “Collective farms” • Private land ownership abolished • Five-Year Plans: ambitious goals for production of heavy industry, such as oil, steel, and electricity • Quotas + plans directed production + distribution

6. Mikhail Gorbachev • Took over as General Secretary in the mid-1980’s • Educated and more “westernized” than previous Soviet leaders • Initiated a wave of reforms: • Glasnost • Perestroika • Demokratizatsiia

7. Glasnost – “Openness” • Open discussion of political, social, and economic issues • Allowed for open criticism of government and government policies • 1st time this allowed in USSR • Gorbachev stressed improving the economic well-being of the country and it’s people: • Open market relations • Pragmatic economic policy • Less secretive government

8. Perestroika – “Restructuring” • Economic Restructuring • Transferred economic power from central government to private hands and market economy • Authorized privately owned companies • Reforms of price controls • Foreign investment • Allowed group formation in civil society (voluntary associations, etc.)

9. Demokratizatsiia • Gorbachev wanted to insert some democratic characteristics into the old Soviet structure • However, he DID want to maintain Communist Party control • Reforms included: • A new Congress of People’s Deputies with directly elected representatives • New position of “President” that was selected by the Congress

10. Buildup to the Breakup • Ethnic and national demands for self-determination contributed significantly to the instability of the Soviet Union in the late 1980’s • Republics began calling for independence • http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7972232.stm

11. Effect of Gorbachev’s Reforms • The Soviet government’s legitimacy diminished as inefficiency and corruption were publicly acknowledged • Increased autonomy of the republics • Enhanced the role of the President • Reduced power of the CPSU • Strengthened powers of the legislature

12. Revolution of 1991 • Coup d'état led by “Conservatives” (those opposed to Gorbachev’s reforms) • Vice-president • Head of the KGB • Top military advisers • Coup failed when popular protests erupted and soldiers defected rather than kill protesters • Protesters led by Boris Yeltsin, president of the Russian Republic

13. Dissolution • Gorbachev restored to power, but by December 1991 eleven Soviet republics had declared their independence • Soon, Gorbachev officially announced dissolution of Soviet Union and his resignation

14. Boris Yeltsin • Former member of Politburo, removed because his radical views offended conservatives • Even more extreme than Gorbachev • Emerged as president of Russian Federation after Soviet Union dissolved • Attempted to create a “western-style” democracy • Weakened power of CPRF

15. 1993 Constitution • President granted significant power over other institutions • Ex.) Allows the President to disband the Parliament

16. “Shock Therapy” economic reforms (early 1990s) • Attempt to immediately transition to market economy (privatization) • Eliminated price controls, sold off all state-owned enterprises • Created “oligarchs” – wealthy individuals who profited greatly by buying up SOEs

17. Effects of “Shock Therapy” • Reforms failed • 1990–1995: 50% decline of GDP and industrial output • Drop in birth rate, increase in death rate • Increase in unemployment + poverty rates • Conflict between Yeltsin and the Duma • Chechen independence movement further destabilized Russia

19. Yeltsin II • Poor president • Alcoholic & frequently ill; this led to erratic political behavior • Resigned before the 2000 elections • Vladimir Putin, Yeltsin’s prime minister, took over and won the 2000 & 2004 elections

21. Vladimir Putin

22. Putin Fishing

23. Putin with Dog

24. Chechnya • Desires independence • 94% are Sunni Muslims • Seen by many Russians as responsible for recent terrorist attacks

25. Putin in Power • 1999 – Used force to put down Chechen rebellion • Extensive media freedom under Yeltsin has been significantly curtailed under Putin • Many journalists have been beaten, others killed

26. Changes to the Structure of Politics/Government • Governors used to be popularly elected • Now essentially chosen by president • Changed the electoral system • Duma elections used to be half proportional, half single-member-district winner-take-all • Now entirely proportional • Threshold for eligibility to win seats was raised from 5% to 7% • Meant to prevent reformers from winning seats • Half of Federation Council appointed by president

27. Putin vs. the Oligarchs • Oligarchs – business and political leaders with immense wealth and influence • Vladimir Putin has attempted to contain the oligarch’s influence • Centralization of power in President • Movement towards authoritarian rule • Unpredictability of Russia (No experience with democracy and free market economy) • Slavic roots provide strong tendency to autocratic rule • Mikhail Khodorkovsky