1. Evolution of the Russian State

2. Oligarchy vs. Democracy
Oligarchs – business and political leaders with immense wealth and influence
Vladimir Putin replaced Yeltsin in 1999 and has attempted to contain the oligarch’s influence in some aspects of government
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

3. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
Most of 20th century authority in Soviet Union came from the Politburo of the Communist Party
Politburo – small group of men who climbed the ranks of the party through the nomenklatura system.
Nomenklatura – Soviet system of lists that facilitated the CPSU’s appointment of trusted people to key positions

4. Stalinism Stalin places Communist Party (CPSU) at center of control
Leaders identified through nomenklatura – process of selecting individuals from lower levels within party
Central Committee: group of 300 party leaders who were the top government officials
Politburo: “heart and soul” of Communist Party, group of 12 men from the Central Committee who ran the country, all government agencies and departments were at their disposal and carried out their decisions
General Secretary: head of the Politburo, “dictator” of the country (Stalin was General Secretary from 1927–1953)

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. Labor and factories fueled by agricultural surplus produced from the farms
Gosplan: Central State Planning Commission, in charge of Five-Year Plans, became the center for the economy, determined production and distribution of virtually all goods in Soviet Union

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

7. Glasnost – “Openness”
Open discussion of political, social, and economic issues
Allowed for open criticism of government and government policies
Gorbachev stressed that the ultimate test of the party lay in improving the economic well-being of the country and it’s people
Open market relations
Pragmatic economic policy
Less secretive government

8. Perestroika – “Restructuring”
Loosened controls of the Communist Party, allowing group formation in other sectors of society
Economic Restructuring
Modernization from within
Transfer economic power from central government to private hands and market economy
Authorization of privately owned companies
Penalties for under-performing state factories
Price reforms
Encouragement of joint ventures with foreign companies
Leasing of farm land outside the collective farms

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
Deputies were often critical of Gorbachev
Increasing levels of displeasure with government from both liberal and conservative members of Communist Party

10. Revolution of 1991
August 1991
Coup was led by “Conservatives” (those opposed to, or who wanted to abandon Gorbachev’s reforms)
Vice-president
Head of the KGB
Top military advisers
Coup failed when popular protests erupted and soldiers defected rather than support their leaders
Protesters were led by Boris Yeltsin, president elect of the Russian Republic
Gorbachev restored to power, but by December 1991 eleven Soviet republics had declared their independence
Gorbachev officially announces dissolution of Soviet Union and his resignation

11. Boris Yeltsin
Former member of Politburo, removed because his radical views offended conservatives
Even more extreme than Gorbachev
Elected president of Russian Republic as result of voting procedures put in place by Gorbachev
Emerged as president of the largest republic, Russian Federation, after Soviet Union dissolved
Attempted to create a “western-style” democracy
“Shock Therapy” economic reforms (Immediate market economy)
Russian economy did not respond to “shock therapy” reforms
Conflict erupted between Yeltsin and the Duma

12. Yeltsin II Poor president Hired and fired numerous prime ministers
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