Russian Federation

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Russian Federation

• Federal system of government
• Mixed Presidential Parliamentary System
• Natural Resources Natural Gas/Oil
• Ethnicity 80 Russian 20 minority
• 99 Literacy Rate

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Vladimir Putins Campaign for the Presidency 2012

• Campaign Ad run on State TV (Putin for
  President)
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vdK-nnASP7OYfeature
  player_embedded!
• Promotional Video (Putin for Prime Minister)
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vzk_VszbZa_s
• Protesters of All Stripes
• NPR In Russia Punk Rockers Against Putin (3.4
  minutes)

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Russian History Overview History of Strong
Leaders

• Czarist Russia
• Russain Revolution (1917)
• Soviet Union (Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev,
  Gorbachev)
• Lenins Comintern policy expands Communist
  influence
• World Power status (Russia was one state)
• Gorbachev introduces glasnost and perestroika
• Gorbachev dismantles S.U.
• Russian Federation (1991)
• Boris Yeltsin becomes President, implements
  privatization plan known as shock therapy.

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Creation of the Russian Federation

• Lack of civil society, legitimacy, and rule of
  law makes Russian democratic transition shaky.
• civil society existence of voluntary
  associations.
• political legitimacy citizens belief in
  governments right to rule.
• Rule of law rules/laws being enforced applied
  equally to all citizens, regardless of stature.
• Referenda 1 Yeltsin (yes or no) (1991)
• Voter Turnout Reported 68 of eligible voters.
• Yes votes 71 No votes 28
• Referenda 2 Constitution (yes or no) (1993)
• Voter turnout Reported 54 of eligible voters
• Margin of victory 58
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_presidential_
  referendum,_1991

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Mixed Presidential Parliamentary System of
Government

• What is a mixed system Pres/Parl system?
• Combines features of Presidential and
  Parliamentary systems.
• Dual executive (President Head of State PMHead
  of Govt).
• Direct election of the President requiring a
  majority of the vote for the winner. In Russia
  there is a two ballot system (run off required if
  no one candidate receives more than 50 on the
  first round). Elections are regularly scheduled.
• President selects Prime Minister from dominant
  party in the Duma and the President can dissolve
  the Duma. The Prime Minister is accountable to
  the President and the legislature. The PM may be
  removed by a vote of confidence.
• Cabinet is selected from Parliament Cabinet
  ministers must resign from parliament.

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Russias Legislature Multiparty System

• http//www.russiavotes.org/duma/duma_elections_93-
  03.php
• Upper House Federation Council
• Lower House Duma
• Political Parties
• Unity
• Communist
• Yabloko
• National Front

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• Vladimir Putin
• Background KGB
• President(2000-08)
• Prime Minister (2008-2012)
• President (2012 -)
• Lets explore his policies.

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Multiparty Party System - Changes by Putin

• Under Putin all Proportional Representation (PR)
  Duma elections were established with 7 minimum
  threshold (originally had ½ PR and ½ SMD).
• Unity Party (backed by Putin) created in 2000
• Fair Russia (2006)
• http//www.russiavotes.org/duma/duma_elections_93-
  03.php

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Federalism Putin

• Federation Council (upper house) are appointed
  (originally they were directly elected).
• Governors are directly elected but can be fired
  by President.
• Referenda on Chechen independence was held under
  Putin (2003 failed)

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Independent Media Freedom of Speech under Putin

• Purchase of state owned media (NTV, ORT and
  TV-6).
• Small media outlets (blogs etc) have been
  proliferating, including popular Russian blogger
  Alexi Navalny.
• Murders of critical independent journalists
  followed by lack of investigation/prosecution.
• Increased regulations/red tape on citizens
  wishing to demonstrate.
• Suspension of many NGOs that lack Russian
  Nationalism?
• Putins Media War (Journeyman Video 23 minutes)

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Prime Minister Putin

• Nashi Youth Group
• Journeyman Video (14 minutes)
• Changes to Length of Presidential Term(Article)
• From a limit of two four year terms to a term of
  six years (and the ability of a leader to
  return).
• Putin proposed change to Constitution which was
  ratified.

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Rule of Law

• Constitutional Court judges are appointed by
  President approved by federation council.
  Judiciary is officially independent, but critics
  allege political.
• Khordokovsky wealty oil co owner, jailed.
• Telephone Justice (or show trials) are believed
  to still be in place. During Soviet times,
  central government would call a judge and order
  the outcome of a case.
• Like China, Russia had no history of independent
  courts nor lawyers/judges trained in a democratic
  legal process. Some evidence that jury trials are
  of private citizens are becoming more fair. The
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Gender Politics

• Number of women in the Duma increasing women
  dominate NGOs.
• The number of female entrepreneurs is increasing.
• Public policies favorable to women include
  generous maternity leave, subidies for having
  children (maternity capital) and accessible
  surroundings

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Women in Parliament

• Russia
• From Inter parlaimentary Union

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Responsible Male Campaign

• Day of Family, Love and Fidelity (2008)

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Vladimir Putin Public Approval 80throughout
his leadership

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Economic Growth
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Seminar Assessing the Legacy of Vladimir Putin
for Russia