Basics Federal state 89 Illiberal democracy Independence 1991

Basics • • • Federal state (89) Illiberal democracy Independence 1991 Constitution 1993 Multinational state Largest oil producer

Cleavages • • Nationality Religion (Muslim) Class Rural/Urban (73% urban)

Elite • Nomenklatura (former party leaders) • Nashi • Siloviki (armed forces, intelligence, law enforcement)

Elections • Duma, President, Referendum • Duma-proportional, 7%, 5 years • President-double ballot, 6 years, 2 terms

Interest Groups • • Oligarchs Mafia State owned enterprises ***undeveloped civil society***

Political Parties • United Russia • Communist Party of the Russian Federation • Liberal Democrats • Yabloko • A Just Russia • Right Cause • Patriots of Russia

Political Culture & Development • • Authoritarian rule-14 th century till 1991 Democratic Centralism Equality of Result Distrust of Government Slavophile Revolutions of 1917 & 1991 1985 Reforms-glastnost, democratization

Economic Change • Stalin-collectivization, industrialization, & Gosplan • Gorbachev-perestroika • Yeltsin-shock therapy • Putin-nationalization (oil, aircraft, auto)

Executive • • Dual President-head of state PM-head of government ***rule by decree, introduction of legislation***

Legislative • Bicameral • Duma • Federation Council

Judicial • Supreme Court-appeals • Constitutional Court-judicial review

Issues • • • Chechnya & terrorism Declining population Relations with west Development of civil liberties & civil society Corruption