Russia
and the
Former Soviet
RepublicsYOUR NAME HERE
Overview
Background Video
Russian People
Economic Issues
Politics and Government
US Interests
Interim Summary
Background Video
Russian People Economic Issues
Politics and Government
US Interests
Ethnic Diversity
Soviet Union was one of the world's most ethnically diverse countries, with 150+ distinct ethnic groups
Population estimated at 293M in 1991 Majority were Russians (51%), Ukrainians (15%), and Uzbeks (6%)
Even after USSR dissolution, Russia remains one of the most ethnically diverse
Russian People
Russian Population Decline
Russia is 6th most populous country with a population estimated at 142.8 million… … But serious population decline since 1990s:
Falling birthrate Rising infertility rates Falling life expectancy Deteriorating public health Highest infant mortality of industrialized nations
Russian People
Education
Education, even under the Soviet system, has always played a significant role in Russian society as demonstrated by:
Near 100% literacy rate World class achievement in music, ballet, art, science, literature, etc. At least 8 Russian recipients of the Nobel Prize, including Poet Laureate Joseph Brodsky
Russian People
Russian People
Religion
Soviet policy towards religion based on Marxism-Leninism ideology
Control and suppression of religion Atheism became official doctrine
Even under Soviet rule, many Russians professed religious belief State-sponsored persecution of Jews and Christians, with Muslims faring somewhat better, until fall of USSR
Russian PeoplePersonal Traits
Pessimism…
Durability…
Patience…
Difficulties of life, “optimistic fatality,” and bittersweet humor
Stability, defending the status quo, and predictability are critical aspects of the long-suffering, enduring Russian character
Tenacity, stamina, and composure are required in Russian interactions
Harsh history and skeptical outlook leads Russians to value stability, security, and predictability. (Yale Richmond)
Russian PeoplePersonal Traits (cont)
Home…
Friends…
No compromise…
A sanctuary of security, hospitality, and relaxed/caring environment
Close, intimate relationships held in high regard and aren’t entered into lightly
Mutual concession can be seen as a sign of weakness
Better to have 100 friends than 100 rubles. (Russian proverb)
Russian People
Personal Traits (cont)
Traditions…
“Russian soul”…
Russians are very proud of their heritage, from folk traditions to importance as a regional power
Emphasis on feeling, sentiment, and nostalgia for the past, as well as a valuing of suffering over satisfaction
Traditional Russian values– self-sacrifice, compassion, family importance, moral strength, respect for elders, and spirituality– pervades Russian society.
Similarities
Continental orientation…
Frontier spirit…
Nuclear weapons…
Bigness…
Russian People
Vast land, ethnic diversity, and regional power
Expansionist mentality
Large stockpiles, environmental issues, and concern over nuclear trafficking
Energetic, inventive emphasis
Differences
* Authority *
* Individual / Group *
Russian People
Power flows up from the people to elected officials
Highly centralized, authoritarian decision makers impose change from above
Emphasis on individualism
Emphasis on communal good or sobornost
Differences
* Nature of Conflict *
* Change *
Russian People
Most major wars fought far from country
Most conflict fought within or near country
Change or “shaking up” the status quo viewed positively
Change fraught with danger and uncertainty; stability preferred
Interim Summary
Background Video
Russian People
Economic Issues Politics and Government
US Interests
Economics Economic decline began long before the USSRs
eventual dissolution. Key factors of this economic stagnation included:
Centralized economic decision making Inadequate economic incentives Poor worker discipline Worsening infrastructure problems Too much spending on the military,
not enough investment in the civilian economy
Economics
Stopping the economic free fall required drastic measures… Enter President Boris Yeltsin
Yeltsin proposed “Shock Therapy,” abandoning a centrally planned economy for a free market system. Three key components of “Shock Therapy”:
Implement price decontrol
Privatize economic activity, including sale of state-owned industries
Reduce government subsidies
Economics Economists thought dismantling the administrative command system in Russia would raise production capability, the GDP, and living standards…
It didn’t… Removal of “social safety net” resulted in unanticipated challenges:
Higher prices, inflation, and corruption Reluctance to participate in privatization Higher unemployment (14%) 25% of Russians live below poverty line Lower standard of living
Economics
Human trafficking is a billion dollar illicit industry, ranked third behind drug trafficking and illegal arms sales… And is one of the fastest growing areas of
international crime.
Economic turmoil directly contributed to the rise in human trafficking in Russia and the Former Soviet Republics
Women and children disproportionately affected
Creation of “artificial orphans”
Women in particular face: Unemployment
Low salaries
Sexual discrimination
Limited retraining programs
Interim Summary
Background Video
Russian People
Economic Issues
Politics and Government US Interests
When the USSR faded into history on 31 December
1991, fifteen newly independent states
emerged, each of which had to answer these
questions:
Politics and Government
Nikita KhrushchevPremier of the Soviet Union,
Mar 1958- Oct 1964
What type of government will we have? How will we form it? How will it work? What powers will it have? And perhaps most importantly…How will we transition to a post-Soviet
government?
Politics and Government
No easy answers for any one 13 parties competed in the 1993 Russian parliamentary elections; two years later, 43 parties fielded candidates
Each country’s transition proceeded differently Some approached democracy Others kept authoritarian political structures
...ALL marked with complex struggles that continue today!
Generally, the politics of transition have pitted people with one of five different political outlooks against each other:
Democrats and Reformers Communists Nationalists and Ultranationalists Economic Pragmatists Islamicists
Politics and Government
Mikhail Gorbachev Last General Secretary of the CPSU
Mar 1985 – Dec 1991
Politics and Government Democrats and Reformers
Many states wanted to establish democratic governments
Strong pro-democracy movements developed in Russia, the Baltic States, Ukraine, etc.
Unwillingness to compromise, however, often undermined efforts and led to numerous pro-democracy parties
Boris Yeltsin1st President of theRussian Federation
July 1991 – Dec 1999
Communists
Primary threat to the democratic reform movement
Argue that democrats mishandled the economy even worse than the communists had
Generally discredited due to past economic mishandling, monopolized power, and internal division…
… But, Zyuganov will run for President in 2008!
Politics and Government
Vladimir Lenin1st Premier of Soviet Union
Nov 1917 – Jan 1924
Gennady Zyuganov Head of the Communist Party of
the Russian Federation 1993 - Current
Nationalists and Ultranationalists
Advocate national control of political-economic power and defense of social-cultural traditions
Many nationalists in the non-Russian states see Russia as a threat
Condemn democrats as incompetent and communists as the source of the problems
Politics and Government
Eduard Limonov National Bolshevik Party leader
Economic Pragmatists
Industrialists, industrial workers, and members of the military are the core members of pragmatic economic centrist groups
Advocate that the most important concern for Russia is economic growth, almost regardless of how it occurs
Politics and Government
Karl MarxAuthor, Communist Manifesto
Politics and Government
Islamicists
In Azerbaijan and the Central Asian states, proponents of Islamic governments have limited, but real, power
Like other post-Soviet political movements, there are divisions in this group as well (i.e., Moderate vs Fundamentalists)
Politics and Government Russian Government
Legislature Executive Judiciary* Central Bank
Federation Council
(178 Seats)
President(Vladimir Putin)
ConstitutionalCourt
Chairman
(Chief Sergei Ignatiev)
The State Duma(450 Seats)
Chairman
(Premier Mikhail Fradkov)
Deputy Chairmen
(First Deputy Premier Medvedev)
The Ministries(Premier and his deputies,
ministers, and selected other individuals)
SupremeCourt
Supreme Court of Arbitration
Deputy
* Judiciary appointed for life by the Federation Council on the recommendation of the President Vladimir Putin
President of the Russian Federation
Politics and Government
Russian Foreign Policy
Quite different than that of Cold War-era USSR Cold War policy shaped by animosity “Capitalistic encirclement” meant long term peace between two antithetical world views impossible
Now, focus is on redefining Russian security interests, rebuilding Russia’s global influence, and bolstering economic growth Bottom line: Political uncertainty facing Russia and the Former Soviet Republics
remains a significant concern, and this political evolution has just begun.
Interim Summary
Background Video
Russian People
Economic Issues
Politics and Government
US Interests
US Interests
In 2000, the Report of the Commission on American National Interests concluded that Russia ranks among the few countries whose actions can affect American interests for several key reasons:
Size and strategic location Soviet legacy Membership on UN Security Council Immense nuclear arsenal
US Interests Size and strategic location
Key regional player in Europe, Middle East, and Central/South/East Asia Russia’s “geopolitical weight” arguably exceeds that of London or Paris
Soviet legacy Russia maintains relationship with and information about countries that are relatively inaccessible to the West Particularly true in Middle East and Central Asia
US Interests
UN Security Council membership Ability to ease or complicate our efforts, affecting our ability to provide global leadership
Immense nuclear arsenal Control and security key issue Economic turmoil and lax security measures contribute to the risk of rogue entities stealing or using bribery to acquire nuclear material
“… [security] measures date from the Soviet era and are not designed to counter the pre-eminent threat faced today, an insider who attempts unauthorized
actions…” (National Intelligence Council, 2002)
Summary
Background Video
Russian People
Economic Issues
Politics and Government
US Interests
Russia
and the Former
Soviet Republics
Questions?
Politics and Government Economics Society, Culture, and the
Environment Foreign Policy US Interests
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
Politics and Government Economics Society, Culture, and the
Environment Foreign Policy US Interests
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
Student Briefings
Politics and Government
Economics Society, Culture, and the
Environment Foreign Policy US Interests
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
Student Briefings
Politics and Government Economics
Society, Culture, and the Environment
Foreign Policy US Interests
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
Student Briefings
Politics and Government Economics Society, Culture, and the
Environment
Foreign Policy US Interests
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
Student Briefings
Politics and Government Economics Society, Culture, and the
Environment Foreign Policy
US Interests
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
SCIS Videos and Student Presentations
Student Briefings
Questions?
Top Related