Political Competition Russia Russia intro How do people

Political Competition Russia

Russia intro How do people organize to compete for office?

The Party System Russia

Russia Party System Russia does not really have institutionalized political parties. The parties that exist tend to not have clear ideologies or lack platforms. . The parties do not articulate preferences or bring together coalitions and have no way of holding elected officials accountable. Multiple parties rise and disappear between each set of elections

Russia Party System Part of this is due to the fact that people don’t really have ideologies. The presidency has led to the creation of parties that serve one person’s presidential ambitions, not ideology The country currently has become basically a one party state centered around the pro-Putin United Russia. Some recent gains from opposition parties show hope that Russian society is willing to challenge those in power.

United Russia

Russia Party of Power United Russia Parties of power cannot be described in ideological terms They are created by political elites to support those elites’ political aspirations They are highly personalized and lack specific ideologies Ex: Our Home Is Russia Party created for 1995 Duma elections to get more support for PM Viktor Chernomyrdin & President Boris Yeltsin By 1999, Fatherland-All Russia was formed for PM Yuri Luzkhov

Russia United Russia The Unity Party was created in 1999 to bolster support for Putin ahead of his first real election. In 2001, Unity merged with Fatherland-All Russia to form United Russia after beating it in the Duma elections Drawing on Putin’s popularity and the increasing control of the government over the elections, United Russia swept the elections in 2003. It has held a big majority in the Duma ever since, and expanded its reach over local government.

Russia United Russia is centered around Putin. It has a youth wing that harasses opponents of the party. Party membership is a means for people to get access to important jobs in the state and the economy. Its ideology is less important than its role in guiding loyal elites into positions of power

Russia United Russia Its platform have always emphasized stability It is conservative, focusing on economic growth and restoration of Russia as a great power National pride, economic development, and an end to the instability of the 1990 s were selling points of the party. The party uses Putin as the individual who can achieve these goals. The party has increasingly stressed moral values, to contrast themselves with the immorality of the West – like being anti-homosexual

Russia United Russia The media overwhelmingly gives support to United Russia The media is dominated by those in power, which tend to be United Russia They had landslide victories in the 2007 Duma elections, leading observers to say the elections are unfair and lack basic standards for democratic procedures.

Communists & Leftists Russia

Russia CPRF Communists Before the rise of United Russia, the strongest most institutionalized party was the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) After being banned by Boris Yeltsin in 1991, it was allowed to reorganize in 1993 It gets support from the population that is ambivalent or hostile to the political and economic changes since the 1980 s. It reached its peak in 1995, becoming the largest party in the Duma. Now its vote share is less than 15%

Russia CPRF Communists The party’s head, Gennady Zyuganov, has finished 2 nd in every presidential election since 1996 (but that means less than 20% of the vote) The party rejects Western capitalism and globalization. It embraces the Stalinist period and calls for a return to Stalinist ideals. It criticizes Putin & United Russia, but doesn’t do anything about it, because that would likely lead to the destruction of the party.

Russia CPRF Communists As the population of Russia ages, the CPRF is losing its traditional support base. Some suspect that Putin supports CPRF – as a way to give the system some semblance of political competition. In this way, he could coopt opposition forces. As the second largest party, it benefits from voters who are protesting United Russia.

Russia A Just Russia Leftists A newer party that would also be considered leftists Started in 2006 as several smaller parties merged to be competitive. It is similar to European social democratic parties. It presents a platform based on limiting inequality and emphasizing social justice. It has the clearest ideology of any other party in the Duma

Russia A Just Russia Leftists Similar to CPRF, many think this party is supported by the Kremlin Some think it was even created by the Kremlin This would allow Putin to funnel opposition forces into a small, marginalized party This makes dissent co-opted. They have a means to legitimately participate on the surface, but in reality they can’t compete It would also add more evidence that Russia has competitive elections

Liberal Parties Russia

Russia Yabloko Liberalist Parties Liberalism has not been a popular ideology in Russia Yabloko was the liberal party in the 1990 s that has only declined since then The party is pro-Western and pro-market, getting support from white collar workers and urban residents in major cities Since the small party threshold was established in the Duma, it has not qualified for seats

Russia Liberalism Liberalist Parties Russia has been historically statist and collectivist Liberal ideology is not likely to find a wide range of public support. The public supports an active role for the state in the economy, which is opposite of liberalism As relations between Russia and the West worsen, liberalism is associated more and more as a foreign ideology Putin has worked hardest to marginalize liberal parties, as their ideology would mean less power for the state

Nationalist Parties Russia

Russia LDPR Nationalists Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (is not liberal or democratic at all) Uses rhetoric based on nationalism, xenophobia, and anti-Semetism They advocate for reconstructing the Soviet Union, by force if necessary They are very hostile toward the West They appeal to lower class individuals whose standards of living have not improved under Putin

Russia LDPR Nationalists In 1993, they won 14% of the seats in the Duma Their support declined by the end of 1990 s but has been growing steadily They are the fourth largest party in the Duma They have consistently supported Putin & his government People have suspected that they are funded by the government as well

Keep knowledge here. Russia

Main Ideas Russia Presidential dominance Duma elections Federal Council Putin’s Pointers! Limits on subnational governments.