Introduction to Russia
Welcome to the study of Russia! In the AP Comparative Government and Politics curriculum, Russia serves as a fascinating example of a semi-presidential system that has transitioned from a communist Soviet past to a system with a very strong presidency. We will look at how Russia organizes its power, how it manages its vast territory through a federal structure, and how its economy relies heavily on natural resources.
Quick Tip: Think of Russia as a "hybrid." It has the features of both a parliamentary system (like the UK) and a presidential system (like Mexico), but the power is tilted heavily toward the President.
Section 1: The Executive Branch – A Dual Executive
Russia uses a semi-presidential/parliamentary-hybrid system. This means there are two distinct executive roles:
1. The President (Head of State)
The President is the most powerful figure in the Russian political system. Since the transition from the Soviet system, the presidency has become increasingly dominant. The President is responsible for setting the overall political direction of the country and nominating high-level officials.
2. The Prime Minister (Head of Government)
The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and must be confirmed by the State Duma. The Prime Minister focuses more on the day-to-day running of the government and the economy.
Don't worry if this seems tricky at first: Just remember that while there are two leaders, the President holds the real "steering wheel" of the country.
Section 2: The Legislative Branch – The Federal Assembly
Russia has a bicameral legislature, which means it has two houses. Together, they are known as the Federal Assembly.
1. The State Duma (Lower House)
The State Duma is the more powerful of the two houses. Its main jobs include:
• Passing legislation.
• Confirming the President’s choice for Prime Minister.
• Election Rule: The system has changed over time, but currently, half (\(50\%\)) of the representatives are directly elected by the people.
2. The Federation Council (Upper House)
The Federation Council represents the various regions of Russia. Unlike the Duma, these members are appointed rather than directly elected. The selection process for these members has changed recently to give the central government more influence over who serves.
Key Takeaway: The Duma handles the law-making and PM confirmation, while the Federation Council represents regional interests through appointment.
Section 3: The Judicial System and Rule by Law
In many democracies, we talk about the Rule of Law (where everyone, including the government, follows the law). However, in Russia, the government often practices Rule by Law.
Rule by Law means the judicial system is used as a tool by the government to achieve its political goals and maintain control.
• Judicial Nominations: The President has significant power over who is nominated to the courts.
• Usage: The judicial system is often used by the government to handle domestic protests and silence opposition.
Section 4: Political Parties and Stability
Russia is described as a dominant-party system. While other parties exist, one party dominates the political landscape, winning the vast majority of elections and holding most of the power.
How the State Maintains Control:
• Registration Requirements: The government has increased the requirements for political parties to register. This makes it harder for new or opposition parties to compete in elections.
• Political Stability: The government maintains stability through this dominant-party setup and by managing how people participate in politics.
Section 5: Social Cleavages and Challenges
Russia is a multinational state, which means it contains many different ethnic and religious groups. This leads to cleavages (social divisions) that the government must manage to keep the country stable.
Major Cleavages:
• Ethnic Cleavage: There is a division between ethnic Russians (who are the majority) and minority non-Russian populations.
• Religious Cleavage: Ethnic Russians tend to be Russian Orthodox, while many minority groups practice other religions, such as Islam.
• Geopolitical Conflict: External actions, such as the annexation of Crimea, can impact national identity and internal stability.
Did you know? Managing a multinational state is one of the biggest challenges for a federal system like Russia's. To see how other federal systems compare, you can look at the chapters on Mexico and Nigeria.
Section 6: Economic Changes and Globalization
Russia’s economy has undergone massive changes since the end of the Soviet Union. Today, it is characterized by two major concepts:
1. Nationalization of Industry
While Russia moved toward a market economy in the \(1990\)s, the state has recently moved back toward nationalization. This means the government has taken control of key industries (like oil and gas) that were previously private.
2. The Rentier State
Russia is a rentier state. This means it gets a large portion of its national revenue from selling its natural resources (specifically oil and natural gas) to other countries.
• Impact: Being a rentier state makes the government less dependent on taxing its citizens, but it also makes the economy vulnerable to changes in global resource prices.
Section 7: Summary and Quick Review
Quick Review Box:
• System: Semi-presidential hybrid with a strong President.
• Legislature: Bicameral (State Duma and Federation Council).
• Power Structure: Federal (power is divided among levels of government).
• Legal System: Rule by law (judiciary used as a tool for the state).
• Economy: Rentier state heavily reliant on nationalized natural resources.
• Parties: Dominant-party system with high registration hurdles.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse Russia with a unitary state like China or the UK. On paper, Russia is federal, meaning it divides power between the central government and regional governments, even if the central government is currently very powerful.