How Political Cleavage Affect Political Participation in Russia
After the collapse of USSR in 1991, one of the most difficult biggest challenges that Russia faced wasis the systemictransformation of politicalsocial statues transformation. And Even now, in Russia now there are still are many political conflicts caused by the discrepancye between the Soviet regime and the new political system. For example, an ongoing political cleavage in Russia is between the reactionaries thosewho are still in favor of the Communist Party and the conservativesthose who are satisfied with the present situation. Likewise Go into more detail, while some people advocate for market liberalism, while others support a planned/commanded economy, causing diverse cleavages to form within cleavages. Although Russia suffers from such adversaries, China, which was also once a communist state(and still is a pseudo-communist state), is not experiencing any of it, much due to its differing structure and system.
Since However,Russia was once a communist state, the Communists Party(KPRF) still is one of the most influential and powerful party in Russia, but is the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF). However, since the new generation that is starting to rise has been to its adverse. Being recognized as the successor of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and, the only legal ruling party during the Soviet Union, KPRF’s holds political ideologies that revolve around are: Communism, Marxism-Leninism, Soviet Socialist Patriotism, Neo-Stalinism, Anti-Revisionism, and Russian Nationalism. The KPRF had enjoyed their power for years, reaching its peak in 1999 election, gaining the most seat, until in 2003, when it was defeated by the United Russia, a merger of the Unity party and Fatherland-All Russia party which gained 222 seats while the KPRF only gained 55.
The transition was largely due to KPRF’s opposition to reforms, especially in fields such as market reforms, privatization programs, and globalization. The younger generation sought change, and therefore, supported the Yabloko, or Right Forces, instead. Unlike the conservative KPRF, the parties chosen by the younger generation either advocated for radical reformists or adopted the western values. According to the Social bases of party support in Russia, 53% of KPRF’s members were 55 or above 55 years old while only 22% are between ages 18-39. On the other hand, 52% of the members in Yabloko party are between ages 18-39, 62% of the members in the Right Forces are between ages 18-39. From this census data, there is a clear-cut difference between the age groups’ support. All in all, the fact that the older generation and the KPRF is mostly opposed to reforms and that younger generation and the newly-risen reformist party supports otherwise determines the political participation of different age groups in Russia.
Albeit the Communist party in Russia is losing power, the opposite thing is happening in China. Since 1949, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has been the only ruling party in China, which seemed very likely that it would follow KPRF’s path. However, unlike that of Russian, China’s law prohibited people from gathering, hence preventing the formation of another party. Therefore, in China, only the government offices participate in making decisions for the country and the common people rarely are included in politics. Thus, if there is any cleavages inside the political scene, it would be CPC’s internal power struggle, but there surely is a big conflict between the office holders, and the common people.
However, although Russia and China may seem different because of their difference in structure and system, they are actually similar politically. Despite the fact that Russia has many political parties while China has only one, only some of the citizens take part in the political scene. Take Russia as an example, the President and the Duma has the most power, followed by the oligarchs who usually are rich entrepreneurs and tycoons that have good connection and relationship with the government. While people do participate in the Russian politics, most of them are unheard, forged or disregarded for the benefits of the three powerful: Mr. President, Duma, and the Oligarchs. Similarly, China allows only the Chairman and the National People’s Congress to make major decisions of the country, with other members participating little by voting for their representatives.
Overall, we believe that Russia’s cleavage has more effect on its political participation because, most people choose what their age group is “supposed” to choose, and even those votes become invalid in front of the benefits of the President, Duma and Oligarchs.
After the collapse of USSR in 1991, one of the most difficult biggest challenges that Russia faced wasis the systemictransformation of politicalsocial statues transformation. And Even now, in Russia now there are still are many political conflicts caused by the discrepancye between the Soviet regime and the new political system. For example, an ongoing political cleavage in Russia is between the reactionaries thosewho are still in favor of the Communist Party and the conservativesthose who are satisfied with the present situation. Likewise Go into more detail, while some people advocate for market liberalism, while others support a planned/commanded economy, causing diverse cleavages to form within cleavages. Although Russia suffers from such adversaries, China, which was also once a communist state(and still is a pseudo-communist state), is not experiencing any of it, much due to its differing structure and system.
Since However,Russia was once a communist state, the Communists Party(KPRF) still is one of the most influential and powerful party in Russia, but is the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF). However, since the new generation that is starting to rise has been to its adverse. Being recognized as the successor of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and, the only legal ruling party during the Soviet Union, KPRF’s holds political ideologies that revolve around are: Communism, Marxism-Leninism, Soviet Socialist Patriotism, Neo-Stalinism, Anti-Revisionism, and Russian Nationalism. The KPRF had enjoyed their power for years, reaching its peak in 1999 election, gaining the most seat, until in 2003, when it was defeated by the United Russia, a merger of the Unity party and Fatherland-All Russia party which gained 222 seats while the KPRF only gained 55.
The transition was largely due to KPRF’s opposition to reforms, especially in fields such as market reforms, privatization programs, and globalization. The younger generation sought change, and therefore, supported the Yabloko, or Right Forces, instead. Unlike the conservative KPRF, the parties chosen by the younger generation either advocated for radical reformists or adopted the western values. According to the Social bases of party support in Russia, 53% of KPRF’s members were 55 or above 55 years old while only 22% are between ages 18-39. On the other hand, 52% of the members in Yabloko party are between ages 18-39, 62% of the members in the Right Forces are between ages 18-39. From this census data, there is a clear-cut difference between the age groups’ support. All in all, the fact that the older generation and the KPRF is mostly opposed to reforms and that younger generation and the newly-risen reformist party supports otherwise determines the political participation of different age groups in Russia.
Albeit the Communist party in Russia is losing power, the opposite thing is happening in China. Since 1949, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has been the only ruling party in China, which seemed very likely that it would follow KPRF’s path. However, unlike that of Russian, China’s law prohibited people from gathering, hence preventing the formation of another party. Therefore, in China, only the government offices participate in making decisions for the country and the common people rarely are included in politics. Thus, if there is any cleavages inside the political scene, it would be CPC’s internal power struggle, but there surely is a big conflict between the office holders, and the common people.
However, although Russia and China may seem different because of their difference in structure and system, they are actually similar politically. Despite the fact that Russia has many political parties while China has only one, only some of the citizens take part in the political scene. Take Russia as an example, the President and the Duma has the most power, followed by the oligarchs who usually are rich entrepreneurs and tycoons that have good connection and relationship with the government. While people do participate in the Russian politics, most of them are unheard, forged or disregarded for the benefits of the three powerful: Mr. President, Duma, and the Oligarchs. Similarly, China allows only the Chairman and the National People’s Congress to make major decisions of the country, with other members participating little by voting for their representatives.
Overall, we believe that Russia’s cleavage has more effect on its political participation because, most people choose what their age group is “supposed” to choose, and even those votes become invalid in front of the benefits of the President, Duma and Oligarchs.