Rise of Russia
Historical Perspective
Russia has been under authoritative rule for most of its history.Early monarchs followed by
the rule of the czars led the Russian people to embrace that style.
CZARS
As a country ruled by the czars, Russia enjoyed some degree of stability, although a new
leader meant a new regime. The people as a whole were very poor and had little means of
resisting their rulers.When the czarist regime finally fell, it gave way to Lenin and the
Marxists.This philosophy took hold easily with the repressed working class of Russia.The
people responded well to a strong leader.
Russia under Communists
● The Economy
Although Russia's market system was purely socialist, the nation became an economic
superpower.Under Stalin, Russia became highly industrialized.Competition with the United
States drove development of new technologies.
● The Military and Secret Police
Russia became a major military superpower, and many of its generals became extremely
influential in Russian society.The KGB kept a close eye on both the Russian people and
Americans, and the secret police had a very tight grip on society.
● The People and their Freedoms
Under communism, personal freedoms took a backseat; the state was always the most
important. Liberties enjoyed by Western democracies were not shared by the Russian
people, but due to propaganda, fear, and a history of obedience, the people didn't rise up.
Rise of Putin
Putin's rise to power can be directly linked to the fall of the USSR. Weak leadership and a
floundering economy left an opening for the then unknown Putin. He promised stability and a
stronger state, and he delivered.
President Putin & the Current Government
Putin turned Russia again towards an executive run nation.His own party, United Russia,
was formed to help ensure his policies would pass through the Duma.Formed a strong hold
on two of three branches of government.
Putin’s Policies
● A major problem in Russia was the power of the oligarchs.
● The political elite in Russia syphoned off huge sums of money, and coupled with
corruption, crippled the Russian people economically.
● In order to regain some of Russia's lostlands, Putin took major military action against
Chechnya, a breakaway Islamic republic in the south.
● With a puppet leader in place, Putin claimed a victory for Russia and began forming
his image as a decisive leader.
, ● Realising Russia's major energy potential, Putin has taken large steps towards
increasing the nation's oil production.
● Putin has also begun rearming the country's military to Soviet Union levels in an
attempt to re-establish the nation as a superpower.
● Putin looks down on “blocs” of countries such as NATO; much of Russia finds the
organisation to be either useless or a threat to the country's influence
● As a UN Security Council member, Putin has attempted to block many actions that
he feels would limit Russian power or increase that of the US
Government
Fundamental changes took place in the political system and government structures of the
Soviet Union that altered both the nature of the Soviet federal state and the status and
powers of the individual republics. From the late 1980s through 1991—the period of Mikhail
Gorbachev's perestroika(“restructuring”), glasnost (“openness”), and demokratizatsiya
(“democratisation”) reform policies.
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 its people
– Open market relations
– Pragmatic economic policy
– Less secretive government
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
Demokratizatsiya
• Gorbachev wanted to insert some democratic characteristics into the old Soviet structure
• However, he did want to maintain Communist Party control
• Reforms included:
1. A new Congress of People’s Deputies with
directly elected representatives
2. New position of “President” that was selected by
the Congress
Historical Perspective
Russia has been under authoritative rule for most of its history.Early monarchs followed by
the rule of the czars led the Russian people to embrace that style.
CZARS
As a country ruled by the czars, Russia enjoyed some degree of stability, although a new
leader meant a new regime. The people as a whole were very poor and had little means of
resisting their rulers.When the czarist regime finally fell, it gave way to Lenin and the
Marxists.This philosophy took hold easily with the repressed working class of Russia.The
people responded well to a strong leader.
Russia under Communists
● The Economy
Although Russia's market system was purely socialist, the nation became an economic
superpower.Under Stalin, Russia became highly industrialized.Competition with the United
States drove development of new technologies.
● The Military and Secret Police
Russia became a major military superpower, and many of its generals became extremely
influential in Russian society.The KGB kept a close eye on both the Russian people and
Americans, and the secret police had a very tight grip on society.
● The People and their Freedoms
Under communism, personal freedoms took a backseat; the state was always the most
important. Liberties enjoyed by Western democracies were not shared by the Russian
people, but due to propaganda, fear, and a history of obedience, the people didn't rise up.
Rise of Putin
Putin's rise to power can be directly linked to the fall of the USSR. Weak leadership and a
floundering economy left an opening for the then unknown Putin. He promised stability and a
stronger state, and he delivered.
President Putin & the Current Government
Putin turned Russia again towards an executive run nation.His own party, United Russia,
was formed to help ensure his policies would pass through the Duma.Formed a strong hold
on two of three branches of government.
Putin’s Policies
● A major problem in Russia was the power of the oligarchs.
● The political elite in Russia syphoned off huge sums of money, and coupled with
corruption, crippled the Russian people economically.
● In order to regain some of Russia's lostlands, Putin took major military action against
Chechnya, a breakaway Islamic republic in the south.
● With a puppet leader in place, Putin claimed a victory for Russia and began forming
his image as a decisive leader.
, ● Realising Russia's major energy potential, Putin has taken large steps towards
increasing the nation's oil production.
● Putin has also begun rearming the country's military to Soviet Union levels in an
attempt to re-establish the nation as a superpower.
● Putin looks down on “blocs” of countries such as NATO; much of Russia finds the
organisation to be either useless or a threat to the country's influence
● As a UN Security Council member, Putin has attempted to block many actions that
he feels would limit Russian power or increase that of the US
Government
Fundamental changes took place in the political system and government structures of the
Soviet Union that altered both the nature of the Soviet federal state and the status and
powers of the individual republics. From the late 1980s through 1991—the period of Mikhail
Gorbachev's perestroika(“restructuring”), glasnost (“openness”), and demokratizatsiya
(“democratisation”) reform policies.
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 its people
– Open market relations
– Pragmatic economic policy
– Less secretive government
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
Demokratizatsiya
• Gorbachev wanted to insert some democratic characteristics into the old Soviet structure
• However, he did want to maintain Communist Party control
• Reforms included:
1. A new Congress of People’s Deputies with
directly elected representatives
2. New position of “President” that was selected by
the Congress
