question

Soviet Union collapsed, reverberations heard around the world, left the Russian federation as the largest piece

answer

1991

question

former member of the Soviet Politburo who declared the end of the old Soviet-style regime, first president of Russian Federation, shock therapy, uneven leader who used authoritarian rule, small group of family members

answer

Boris Yeltsin

question

reforms put in place by Boris Yeltsin that pointed the country in the direction of democracy and free-market economy

answer

Shock Therapy

question

form of government in which a few people have the power, Yeltsin created one using family

answer

Oligarchy

question

elected two times, often acted aggressively in containing oligarchs' political and economic powers, increased centralization of powers, stepped down after two terms honoring Constitution of 1993, more conservative than Yeltsin

answer

Vladimir Putin

question

Putin's successor, hand-picked

answer

Dmitri Medvedev

question

a small group of men who climbed the ranks of the party

answer

Politburo

question

an ordered path from local party soviets to the commanding heights of leadership

answer

Nomenklatura

question

was at low ebb in beginning of 21st century, regime change, drastic departure from past hurt, Putin has stabilized it with his election, smooth transitions from president to president had added to it

answer

Legitimacy

question

strong, autocratic leaders of Russia, large legitimacy

answer

Tsars

question

communist rule that provided the legitimacy base for the party

answer

Marxism-Leninism

question

rule by a few instead of the many, "vanguard" rulers, proposed by Lenin

answer

Democratic Centralism

question

more of a totalitarian ruler, more complete, invasive form of strong-man rule than the tsars ever were

answer

Stalinism

question

provided for a strong president, although the power was checked by popular election and lower house of legislature, required referendum of people to endorse it

answer

Constitution of 1993

question

lower house of the legislature, had actually existed during 19th century

answer

Duma

question

absolute power defended with brutality and force, based on geography because Huns, Vikings, Mongols would conquer them, Russians needed firm, unchallenged leaders

answer

Absolute, Centralized Rule

question

numerous invasions meant different cultures, rapidly expanding borders stretched the empire to include more and more people, constant state of change with ethnicity, borders impossible to draw

answer

Extensive Cultural Heterogeneity

question

reflects the diversity, with countless "republics" and "autonomous regions" based on ethnicity

answer

Russian Federation

question

"lover of Slaves", led to a pride in Slavic customs, language, religion, history, led Russia to resist outside influence

answer

Slavophile

question

wanted to "modernize" Russia with a stronger army, navy, roads, communication, "Window on the West", intrigued by the west, learned shipbuilding, brought engineers, carpenters, etc.

answer

Peter the Great

question

St. Petersburg, a city built on newly conquered lands near Baltic Sea

answer

Window on the West

question

followed Peter the Great and his efforts, led to a major empire, set in place a conflict, managed to gain access to Black Sea, was interested in Enlightenment development

answer

Catherine the Great

question

challenged the traditional views of Russians

answer

George Kennan

question

seized power and renamed the country Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

answer

Bolsheviks

question

USSR

answer

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

question

communist leaders under Lenin replaced the tsars, ruled according to socialist principles, leaning toward absolute, centralized rule, old social classes swept away, tried to blend westernization with Slavophile

answer

Revolutions

question

Russia is largest country in world, many different climates and ethnicities, borders touch many nations, coldest on earth, desire to conquer countries that have blocked access to sea, oil, gas, timber

answer

Geographic Setting

question

Russians traded with Constantinople, adopting their religion, Russia did not share values of European Renaissance, Reformation, Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment, came to value strong state

answer

Eastern Orthodoxy

question

The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation, no separation of church and state

answer

Statism

question

spheres of privacy free from control of state, western idea

answer

Civil Society

question

Communists instilled appreciation for equality, most resent differences in wealth, different from equality of opportunity, not conducive to capitalism

answer

Equality of Result

question

the doctrine of the equality of mankind and the desirability of political and economic and social equality

answer

Egalitarianism

question

Russian citizens are hostile to leadership, citizens have little faith in their political system, Putin has highest approval ratings, police have little in non-governmental agents

answer

Skepticism About Power

question

new emphasis on freedom of speech and press, instituted by Gorbachev, received complaints from everyone

answer

Glasnost

question

people characterize based on nationalities, discriminate based on stereotypes, admire Baltic people, disdain for Muslim-Turkic, passed laws discouraging people from settling in regions, anti-Semitism

answer

Importance of Nationality

question

has had trouble with gradual and ordered change, tendency to descend into chaos or revolution, tsars understood dangers of chaos in Russia, resorted to force, had to keep out Renaissance ideas, gradual attempts at industrialization ended in assassination, Five-ear Plans were successful

answer

Troubles with Gradual Change

question

freed Russian serfs and experimented with local assemblies, assassinated in 1881, seriously sponsored reform

answer

Alexander II

question

14th century to 20th century rule, control was passed through the Romanov family, transitions were accompanied by brutality

answer

Autocratic Rule by Tsars

question

20th century, V.I. Lenin seized control after Nicholas II, regime toppled in 1991

answer

Communist Party Rule

question

Yeltsin put in western-style reforms in place, procedural democracy, free market in 1991

answer

Change to Democracy

question

first tsars were princes of Moscow, cooperated with Mongol rulers, were rewarded with power, when Mongols weakened, they declared themselves "tsars", autocratic and controlled land tightly, isolated as result, long distances separated it

answer

Tsarist rule

question

headed by the tsars

answer

Russian Orthodox Church

question

one who rules absolutely, with clear goals for the country in mind, Catherine and Peter the Great

answer

Enlightened Despot

question

Russia brought into contact with West when Napoleon invaded, Alexander I resisted, Western thought influenced Russian intellectuals, no rooms for politics under tsars, tsars sent secret police to investigate and exile the critics

answer

19th Century Tsars

question

resulted from intellectuals' frustration with absolute rule; ruthlessly crushed by many of Nicholas I

answer

Decembrist Revolt of 1825

question

Russia defeated in this war, convinced many of tsar's critics that Russian ways were backwards and in need of reform

answer

Crimean War

question

assemblies, local ones set up by Alexander II

answer

Zemstvas

question

an educated and intellectual elite

answer

Intelligentsia

question

son of Alexander II, undid many reforms of his father, intensified efforts of secret police

answer

Alexander III

question

Russia's ineffectiveness in fighting Russo-Japanese War, World War I, Nicolas was in wrong place at wrong time, weak ruler with no control over his armies

answer

Cause of Revolution of 1917

question

ruler of Russia who was deposed during the Revolution, weak ruler who had no control over his armies

answer

Nicholas II

question

predicted socialist revolutions would take place first in nations like Germany, France and England

answer

Marxism

question

VI Lenin's pamphlet, argued for democratic centralism, vanguard leadership that would lead the revolution, believed revolution could occur because of terrible conditions

answer

What Is To Be Done?

question

led by Russian military leaders and funded by Allied Powers

answer

White Army

question

army led by Lenin, winning side

answer

Red Army

question

instituted by Lenin, allowed a great deal of private ownership to exist under a centralized leadership, brought prosperity to farmers, non industrialization

answer

New Economic Policy

question

drastically changed Lenin's democratic centralism, Communist Party at center of control, no other political parties, 7% were members, ran all governments

answer

Joseph Stalin

question

the process of party members selecting promising recruits from lower levels

answer

Nomenklatura

question

most important top government officials, a group of 300 party leaders that met twice a year

answer

Central Committee

question

above the Central Committee, heart and soul of Communist party, twelve men who ran the country, decisions carried out by government agencies and department

answer

Politburo

question

head of the Politburo, assumed full power as dictator of county

answer

General Secretary

question

state run farms, more effectively, did away with private land ownership, farms were intended to feed workers in the cities who contributed to industrilaization

answer

Collectivization

question

peasants who resisted that owned large farms, were forced to move to cities or labor camps

answer

Kulaks

question

Stalin's economic plans, set ambitious goals for production of oil, steel, electricity

answer

Five Year Plan

question

the Central State Planning Commission, became nerve center for the economy, determined production and distribution of all goods in the Soviet Union

answer

Gosplan

question

the two-pronged program of collectivization and industrialization carried out be central planning and executed with force and brutality

answer

Stalinism

question

primary goal was internal development, advocated "socialism in one country", tried to ignore fascist threats, signed non-aggression pact with Germany in 1939, attacked by Germany following year, joined sides with allies, tensions at conferences escalated to Cold War

answer

Stalin's Foreign Policy

question

execution of millions of citizens, up to one million party members, became obsessed with disloyalty in party ranks, ordered execution of his own generals, held total power, many speculated he had gone made by the end

answer

Purges

question

chose as party secretary and premier, gave famous secret speech, DeStalinization, criticized for his reforms and diplomatic failure in Cuban Missile Crisis

answer

Nikita Khrushchev

question

Khrushchev revealed existence of a letter written by Lenin before he died, critical of Stalin, used it to denounce his practices

answer

Secret Speech

question

a process that led to reforms such as loosening government censorship of press, decentralization of economic decision-making, restructuring of collective farms

answer

DeStalinization

question

relaxation of tensions between US and Soviet Union

answer

Peaceful Coexistence

question

replaced Khrushchev, much more conservative, ended reforms and tried to cope with increased economic power

answer

Leonid Brezhnev

question

replaced Brezhnev, unlike any Soviet leader before, acted "western', open to many reforms, inherited many problems, three-pronged program (Glasnost, Democratization, Perestroika)

answer

Mikhail Gorbachev

question

"openness", allowed more discussion of political, social, and economic issues as well as criticism of government, caused many problems for Gorbachev, people vented hostility toward government, caused open revolt

answer

Glasnost

question

believed he could keep Old Soviet structure with more democracy, new Congress of People's deputies, new position of President

answer

Democratization

question

economic reform, most radical, least successful, tried to keep old structure and modernize it, transferred economic power to private hands, authorization of privately owned companies, penalties for under-performing factories, etc.

answer

Perestroika

question

1991 "conservatives" from within Politburo led coup d'etat that tried to remove Gorbachev, failed when popular protests broke out, soldiers defected, protesters led by Boris Yeltsin, December 1991 11 republics had declared independence, Gorbachev forced to announce end of Union

answer

Failed Coup

question

created a three-branch government, with a president, prime minister, lower legislative house called the Duma, and a Constitutional Court

answer

Constitution of 1993

question

many are affected by contradictory influences from their political culture, say they support democratic government although they do not believe one exists, like the idea of strong state, etc.

answer

Citizens

question

nationality, social class, rural/urban divisions

answer

Cleavages

question

80% are Russian, others include Tatars, Ukrainians, Armenians, Chuvashes, etc., determine organization of country into "federation", "autonomous regions", many would like their independence, nationalists have take to kidnappings, suicide bombings, xenophobic attacks in Russia, fatal school of soccer fan, etc., "Russians for Russians"

answer

Nationality

question

a primarily Muslim region that has fought for years for its freedom, Russia has had considerable difficulty keeping Chechnya a part of Russia, involved in terrorist acts, referendum to gain legitimacy for Russian government in Chechnya

answer

Chechnya

question

former rebel, became president of Chechnya in 2007, fighting has not stopped, endorsed by Putin

answer

Ramzan Kadyrov

question

Tsarist Russia was overwhelmingly Russian Orthodox, tsar served as spiritual head of state, Soviet Union prohibited religious practices of all kinds, citizens lost their religious affiliations, LARGELY NON-RELIGIOUS, Moscow contains ultimately authority in church matters

answer

Religion

question

had split after Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, vowing never to return as long as the "godless regime" was in power, reunited with Russian Orthodox Church

answer

Russian Church Abroad

question

Moscow has large population who are laborers, Caucasus seen as a hot spot of trouble, problems with Chechnya made it had for Putin to cultivate relationship, Bashkortostan and Tatarstan had calmer relationships

answer

Muslim Concentration

question

president of Tatarstan, accompanied Putin around Middle East in restructuring Russia's image of Muslim

answer

Mintimer Shaimiev

question

Soviet attempts to destroy class differences were successful, noble/peasant difference no longer exists, but Party and non-Party members made new cleavage, economic favors granted to those in power, however egalitarian views and nomenklatura didn't take background into account

answer

Social Class

question

people who have recently amassed fortunes from new business opportunities, many survived and new opportunities are emerging, Putin era took aim at any who didn't pay taxes

answer

New Entrepreneur Class

question

industrialization has led to increasing urban population, divide between them is wide, city dwellers are more educated, in touch with west, etc.

answer

Rural/Urban Cleavages

question

predicted the demise of Capitalist West, belief fed into Russian nationalism and supported the notion that the Russian government and way of life would prevail

answer

Marxism

question

information about people's views is scarce, people are alienated from political system, people support democratic ideals, including free elections and civil liberties, do not believe government can create these things,

answer

Mistrust of Government

question

Russians expect the state to take an active role in their lives, citizens function more as subjects than participants, expect great deal from government

answer

Statism

question

nearly all parties support market transition, privatization and limited government regulation is rapid market reform, "shock therapy"

answer

Economic Beliefs

question

Slavophile vs. Westernizer, some parties emphasis nationalism and defense of Russian interests, etc.

answer

Westernization

question

Russians did vote in 20th century, but elections were not competitive until Gorbachev, still noncompetitive because it was choice between official candidate and alternate

answer

Voting

question

many criticized government's economic policies that led to sinking, Vladivostok, 1000 protesters marched through the streets, police riots, etc.

answer

Political Protest

question

since 1991 turnout has been highest than in the United States, presidential elections has been higher than Duma elections, etc.

answer

Voter Turnout

question

private organizations and associations outside of politics, leas to low political participation, Russians don't attend church, belong to clubs, etc., 1% belong to political party, however appears to be growing, emerged as result of glasnost on issues like environment, ethnicity, gender, human rights, etc.

answer

Civil Society

question

state-sponsored organizations in this arrangement with the government because Soviet authorities argued that only the party could and should represent the people's interest

answer

State Corporatism

question

Russia's largest youth movement, organized mass marches in support of Putin, laid siege to Estonian embassy

answer

Nashi

question

Nashi, Youth Guard, Locals, all are in effort to build a following of loyal, patriotic young people, defuse resistance

answer

Youth Groups

question

youth wing of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

answer

Komsomol

question

89 regions, each bound by treaty to the Federation, most regions are called "Republics", many ruled themselves independently, authoritarian,

answer

Federal Government Structure

question

some regions are much stronger than others

answer

Asymmetric Federalism

question

seven new federal districts encompassing all of Russia, each headed by a presidential appointee

answer

Super-Districts

question

a law allowing the president to remove from office a governor who refuses to subject local law to national constitution

answer

Removal of Governors

question

measure ending direct election of regional governors, president would elect governors and local legislatures would confirm

answer

Appointment of Governors

question

upper legislative house, change prohibited governors and Duma heads from serving themselves

answer

Federation Council

question

Putin initiated change to pure proportional representation electoral system

answer

Elimination of Single-Member District Seats

question

very weak, situation which undermines recent attempts to establish a democracy, political parties were unstable, no solid footing for interest groups

answer

Linkage Institutions

question

Russia has had to put them together overnight, small factional ones, 43 on ballot in 1995, revolved around specific leaders, others reflected a particular group, 26 in 1999, but mostly new ones, no time to develop party loyalties, personalistic rule, new rules shrank number

answer

Parties

question

proportional representation requires all parties to win at least 7% of national vote to win any seats

answer

Change in Voting Rules

question

formed in April 2001 between Fatherland All-Russia Party and Unity Party, intended to support Putin in presidential election, won 221 seats in 2004, gained 64$ of vote in 2007, hard to define ideologically, PRO-PUTIN

answer

United Russia

question

second strongest party, even though never won a presidential election, far less reformist than other parties, opposed many reforms, continues to support stability of old regime, centralized planning and nationalism

answer

Communist Party of Russian Federation

question

CPRF leader, came in second in 1996 and 2000 presidential elections

answer

Gennady Zyuganov

question

most controversial party, headed by Vladimir Zhirinovsky, made headlines for extreme nationalist positions, attacks reformists, implied he would use nuclear weapons on Japan, anti-Semitic remarks, sexist comments, etc.

answer

Liberal Democrats

question

formed in 2006, formed from many organizations, gained 38 seats in Duma

answer

A Just Russia

question

managed to win 8% of vote in regional elections in 2011, came in third, Kremlin product, "statists" and "patriots" aiming to build "great and prosperous" Russia, foil the Communist Party and Just Russia

answer

Patriots of Russia

question

parties strongly sponsored by economic and political power-holders, less ideological

answer

Parties of Power

question

president could call for one by popular vote on important issues, Yeltsin called for one on his job performance, later held in favor of new Constitution, vote to approve Chechnyan Constitution

answer

Referendum

question

five different times, 450 seats, all seats now assigned by proportional representation, eliminated "against all" option as well, must get at least 7% of national vote to gain any seats

answer

Duma Elections

question

two-round model that Duma has, some questioned honesty of elections, media clearly favored both candidates who won, law restricted right of small parties to run presidential candidates

answer

Presidential Elections

question

only allowed under state corporatism in Soviet Union , controlled by government, state-owned industries were bought by insiders after collapse of Soviet Union, collection of oligarchs were major interest group

answer

Interest Groups

question

group of wealth insiders who bought state-owned industries after collapse of Soviet Union, monopolized Yeltsin and took control of largest industries, Putin showed resistance, clashed with entrepreneurs, economic climate has weakened the oligarchs

answer

Oligarchy

question

best known oligarch, he and six others control half of Russia's GNP, used media to ensure Yeltsin's reelection

answer

Boris Berezovsky

question

richest man in Russia, CEO of Yukos Oil Company, arrested as signal from Putin the government was consolidating power

answer

Mikhail Khodorvsky

question

state determines which groups have input into policy-making, vast state-owned holding companies in automobile and aircraft industries, etc., government has forced companies who are too independent of government to sell

answer

State Corporatism

question

either government-controlled companies or companies run by men seen as loyal to Mr. Putin

answer

Insider Privatization

question

controls more than under-world crime, control local businesses, natural resources, banks, thrive on protection money, laundering, deals with Russian governments, murder bankers, journalists, etc.

answer

Russian Mafia

question

Pravda only printed what government officials wanted it to, continued as independent newspaper later on, little to fear from official censorship, biggest stories focus on celebrities, etc., reports for serious journalists are tough, criticizing the government, clearly doesn't have freedom of the press, DON'T CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT

answer

Russian Media

question

official newspaper of the Soviet Union, reinvented itself as a tabloid, little to fear from official censorship because of investigative journalism, etc.

answer

Pravda

question

only independent television network, Kremlin took it over, tried to play honest reporting, was ousted by the government, correspondent died

answer

NTV

question

shows freedom of press, most networks didn't even cover it, NTV didn't show up until late, etc.

answer

Beslan School Seizure

question

hybrid of presidential and parliamentary systems, meant to allow for a strong presidency, but still allow some democratic checks on executive power, branches have stabilized but it's too soon to tell whether it will be successful

answer

Semi-Presidential System

question

separates the head of state and head of government

answer

Executive Branch

question

the president, has been far from ceremonial, came to dominate the prime minister under Putin, elected for four-year (six year in 2012), limit of two terms, anyone who gets a million signatures can run

answer

Head of State

question

prime minister, dominated by president

answer

Head of Government

question

Duma must approve it, but if they reject it three times, president may dissolve them, Putin was prime minister when he ran for president, appointed Kasyanov

answer

Appoint Prime Minister and Cabinet

question

have force of law, cabinet has a great deal of concentrated, centralized power, Duma has no power to censure cabinet, created United Aircraft Corporation

answer

Issue Decrees

question

the president can get rid of the Parliament, can order the army to fire on the building until the members give up,

answer

Dissolve the Duma

question

takes over in case of presidential death or resignation, not leader of majority party, instead have much expertise as result of work in bureaucracy

answer

Prime Minister

question

Russian legislature has proved to be weak check on executive, Duma and Federation Council

answer

Bicameral Legislature

question

lower house with 450 deputies, passes bills, approves budget, confirms president's appointments, very limited powers, impeachment process is cumbersome

answer

Duma

question

consists of two members from each of 89 federal administrative units, one representative is selected by the governor of each region and another by regional legislature, represents regions, not populations, has main power of delaying legislation, can change boundaries among republics, ratify use of armed force, appoint new judges

answer

Federation Council

question

nineteen members, appointed by president, confirmed by Federation Council, moved to St. Petersburg away from political influence, POWER TO CHALLENGE CONSTITUTIONALITY, suffers from lack of legal training

answer

Constitutional Court

question

created to serve as final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases, does not have power to challenge constitutionality of laws and political actions

answer

Supreme Court

question

attempted to revive period of law reform, including jury trial, procedural code for criminal and civil rights, great deal of money on reform, Putin's impact on courts was unacceptable to Clinton

answer

Putin's Law Reforms

question

State Security Committee

answer

KGB

question

state and society have been pushed away from law by corruption, allowing police to continue to operate autonomously, security police are generally least corrupt, puts drag on economic development because so much money is siphoned off for bribes

answer

Role of Corruption

question

Soviet government paid for this ahead of everything, 4 million men, did not take lead in politics, shows no sign of becoming a political force, suffered military humiliation, soldiers go unpaid and supply own food

answer

Military

question

prominent general, gained political following before election of 1996, military coup unlikely, Russian Air Force would assert old vigor by long-range patrols by nuclear-capable bombers again, move was seen by many as rise in strength by many in military again, military spending has increased

answer

Alexander Lebed

question

perestroika reforms never fully implemented, dissent within Politburo led to coup, "shock therapy" created chaotic conditions resulted in oligarchs running country, stock market toppled, government defaulted on loans, unemployment soared, ruple collapsed, new industries improved, standard of living rose, stimulus plan had very little effect, economy is run by oil and gas reserves, need to diversify

answer

The Economy

question

dominance of the world was broken, time of chaos and humiliation, relied on loans of US to gain economic footing

answer

Foreign Policy

question

unites the fifteen former republics of the Soviet Union, has little power over its members, Russia, trade agreements bind them, nationality issue divide them, Putin's involvement in elections in Ukraine was controversial, controversy in Estonia

answer

Confederation of Independent States

question

US emerged as only superpower, Bush and Clinton believed in working relationship with Russia, G-8 summits, aid packages for Russia, Russia is entering WTO, clout comes from oil and gas industries, terrorist attacks with 9/11 made tense the relationships between the nations

answer

Relations with West

question

a powerful body responsible for regulating international trade, settling trade disputes, and designing trade policy through meetings

answer

World Trade Organization

question

Belsan school siege, suicide bombing in Moscow, Putin argued tighter grip

answer

Terrorism

question

Russia has suffered dramatic drop in overall population, predicts 18% drop by 2050, low birth rate and poor health habits, alcohol-related death, life expectancy is low, government is encouraging Russians to return home, repatriation program, etc.

answer

Population Issues

question

Putin's party controls huge part of the Duma, government has controlled power of oligarchs, controls major television stations, Russian gas giant Gazprom, not clear whether it marks end of democracy or reaction to terrorism

answer

Re-Centralization of Power

question

a public life that is defined by government, private life in which people are free to make their own individual choices, do not share the idea of life, liberty, and property, became a superpower through strong central government

answer

Development of Civil Society

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