Russia and the Former Soviet Republics YOUR NAME HERE.

Russia

and the

Former Soviet

RepublicsYOUR NAME HERE

http://www.theodora.com/wfb/russia/russia_flags.html

Overview

Background Video

Russian People

Economic Issues

Politics and Government

US Interests

http://www.barynya.com/romen/romen.jpg

Interim Summary

Background Video

Russian People Economic Issues


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

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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:


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?


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


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!


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


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


Karl MarxAuthor, Communist Manifesto


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


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


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


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


Student Briefings


Economics Society, Culture, and the

Environment Foreign Policy US Interests



Student Briefings

Politics and Government Economics

Society, Culture, and the Environment

Foreign Policy US Interests



Student Briefings


Environment

Foreign Policy US Interests



Student Briefings


Environment Foreign Policy

US Interests



Student Briefings

Questions?

Russia and the Former Soviet Republics YOUR NAME HERE.

Documents

Transcript of Russia and the Former Soviet Republics YOUR NAME HERE.