Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
Type of State
Russia is definitely a strong state since the government, especially the President, in Russia holds a lot of power. First, the president is Russia has much power the over military. For example: the defense doctrine needs to be approved by the President, and the President gets to appoint or remove the high command of armed forces. Second, the President also controls the Control Directorate, which is in charge of investigating official corruptions. Third, the President also controls the Administrative Affairs Directorate, which includes the management of more than 200 state industries and 50,000 employees. With these additional supports, the President gets to influence people physically, economically, socially, and politically. Therefore, the government in Russia has much authority.
Furthermore, Russia is a high capacity and autonomy state since the government in Russia has enough power to control andinfluence the people. Inaddition, the President in Russia has so much power that has been viewed as a dictator in other people’s eye; therefore, this is why Russia has been mocked as an authoritarian state. According to an article on World Politics News Reviews, a poll shows that “well over 80 percent of Russians did not believe they could influence the political process. And, for the most part, they were right, not least because people who do not participate — either because they don’t want to, or because they’re disincentivized from doing so — can have little effect” Thus, we see that the people in Russia could barely participate or affect the politics in Russia.
On the other hand, Russia is now a high legitimacy country since President Putin has brought stability to the country. And since the economy is growing continually, the people do not care much about the government’s corruption and illegal actions.
Furthermore, Russia is a high capacity and autonomy state since the government in Russia has enough power to control andinfluence the people. Inaddition, the President in Russia has so much power that has been viewed as a dictator in other people’s eye; therefore, this is why Russia has been mocked as an authoritarian state. According to an article on World Politics News Reviews, a poll shows that “well over 80 percent of Russians did not believe they could influence the political process. And, for the most part, they were right, not least because people who do not participate — either because they don’t want to, or because they’re disincentivized from doing so — can have little effect” Thus, we see that the people in Russia could barely participate or affect the politics in Russia.
On the other hand, Russia is now a high legitimacy country since President Putin has brought stability to the country. And since the economy is growing continually, the people do not care much about the government’s corruption and illegal actions.
Political Culture
Consensus or Coercion?
Due to the size of the country, Russia's political culture is very conflictual, since the people are living under different climate areas, causing them to have different beliefs and views on politics. Instead of having consensus as a source of governing, the Russian government uses coercion as a means of controlling its citizens. Moreover, the Russian government has a history of having a physically strong government. The czar had held power for a long time, and it wasn’t until recently did Russia start moving itself closer toward democracy, but the government still struggles to follow the ideas of democracy. For example, although there was the elections, they, very much like Iran's presidential elections, were not really taken into consideration. As a result, there is a widespread usage of "low-intensity coercion" such as harassing opponents.
Due to the size of the country, Russia's political culture is very conflictual, since the people are living under different climate areas, causing them to have different beliefs and views on politics. Instead of having consensus as a source of governing, the Russian government uses coercion as a means of controlling its citizens. Moreover, the Russian government has a history of having a physically strong government. The czar had held power for a long time, and it wasn’t until recently did Russia start moving itself closer toward democracy, but the government still struggles to follow the ideas of democracy. For example, although there was the elections, they, very much like Iran's presidential elections, were not really taken into consideration. As a result, there is a widespread usage of "low-intensity coercion" such as harassing opponents.
Centralization or Devolution?
Russia's political culture is very centralized. Putin has almost absolute power over everyone else in the government. Therefore, the Russian government is autocratic in many aspects. The country is becoming more and more centralized as Putin gains more power than a typical president of a "federation". Historically, the tsars ruled with absolute centralized power. This enabled them to prevent the Huns, Vikings, and Mongols from taking over their reign. Even after the tsars are overthrown, the idea of keeping the people under control with centralized force remains. Moreover, the Constitution of 1993 provided presidents with great power
Russia's political culture is very centralized. Putin has almost absolute power over everyone else in the government. Therefore, the Russian government is autocratic in many aspects. The country is becoming more and more centralized as Putin gains more power than a typical president of a "federation". Historically, the tsars ruled with absolute centralized power. This enabled them to prevent the Huns, Vikings, and Mongols from taking over their reign. Even after the tsars are overthrown, the idea of keeping the people under control with centralized force remains. Moreover, the Constitution of 1993 provided presidents with great power
Unitary State, Federalism, Asymmetric Federalism, and Autonomy
The Russian government is in theory a federation. The Constitution of 1993 created three branches of government: the president, prime minister, and duma (legislative house) & a constitutional council. In reality, Russia is very unitary, especially with the constant conflict between the duma and the president (ex: Yeltsin) The state is pretty autonomic as it is able to control itself rather than having outside influences affect its policies. Moreover, the government controls the press and censors websites which disallowed many foreign ideas to exert influences on the country, enabling itself more autonomy.
Russian Presidential election of 2000, voting rate for Putin in different areas
The Russian government is in theory a federation. The Constitution of 1993 created three branches of government: the president, prime minister, and duma (legislative house) & a constitutional council. In reality, Russia is very unitary, especially with the constant conflict between the duma and the president (ex: Yeltsin) The state is pretty autonomic as it is able to control itself rather than having outside influences affect its policies. Moreover, the government controls the press and censors websites which disallowed many foreign ideas to exert influences on the country, enabling itself more autonomy.
Russian Presidential election of 2000, voting rate for Putin in different areas
Legitimacy of the State
Sources of Legitimacy
Charismatic legitimacy plays an important role in Russia’s role. Though the government in Russia is somehow corrupted and autocratic, Putin’s support rate is still high. In the beginning, people thought that the reason why Putin has high support rate is due to his success in improving the economy in Russia. But later, this statement had been refuted after 2008, where many financial crises had hit Russia hardly. In 2009, the GDP of Russia has declined by 9% compare to the previous year; the industrial production was 11% lower; the nation average wage dropped from $700 to $600; the unemployment rate increased around 15%. But even so, these did not had an drastic impact on people’s support for Putin, instead, Putin’s support rate only dropped a little from 83% to 76%.
On the other hand, it is true that rational-legal legitimacy exists in Russia, but it only plays a minor role in the system. Logically, since the concept of rational-legal legitimacy and that of charismatic legitimacy are against each other, the relationship of Charismatic legitimacy and Rational-legal legitimacy could be described as proportionally inversed. (described in the chart) Thus, because we know that charismatic legitimacy plays a big role in Russia, it threatens and weakened the power of rational-legal legitimacy.
Charismatic legitimacy plays an important role in Russia’s role. Though the government in Russia is somehow corrupted and autocratic, Putin’s support rate is still high. In the beginning, people thought that the reason why Putin has high support rate is due to his success in improving the economy in Russia. But later, this statement had been refuted after 2008, where many financial crises had hit Russia hardly. In 2009, the GDP of Russia has declined by 9% compare to the previous year; the industrial production was 11% lower; the nation average wage dropped from $700 to $600; the unemployment rate increased around 15%. But even so, these did not had an drastic impact on people’s support for Putin, instead, Putin’s support rate only dropped a little from 83% to 76%.
On the other hand, it is true that rational-legal legitimacy exists in Russia, but it only plays a minor role in the system. Logically, since the concept of rational-legal legitimacy and that of charismatic legitimacy are against each other, the relationship of Charismatic legitimacy and Rational-legal legitimacy could be described as proportionally inversed. (described in the chart) Thus, because we know that charismatic legitimacy plays a big role in Russia, it threatens and weakened the power of rational-legal legitimacy.
Veil of Ignorance
In Russia, since people could barely know what the government is doing since the political efficacy in Russia is low and most information are censored by the government in Russia. In addition, corruption is an important in Russia, in accordance to the Corruption index, Russia ranked 133/176, which is same as Iran and Kazakhstan. And according to the experts in US, the market for corruption in Russia has exceeded $240 billion US dollars. Therefore, we see that the people in Russia barely know what their government is doing.
Political Efficacy
Russia's political efficacy is quite low. However, many people are reported to be willing to sacrifice their "democratic rights" for economic and political stability. Even so, a great majority of people are discontent about not having a say in the government. Since Gorbachev's time, Russians' wish for freedom of speech is clearly presented. When Gorbachev launched the glasnost, he received many criticism from that people that were angered by the long repression. Similarly, as democracy became more and more prominent, more Russians are starting to desire this freedom. However, the government controls the media very strictly, and the lack of freedom of speech is a major reason for the low political efficacy in Russia
Accountability
In the 19th century, there were uncertainties regarding Russia's legitimacy due to the coups and internal conflicts between the Duma and the president. However, the change of president from Yeltsin to Putin went on without much conflict. This strengthens the confidence of people towards the constitution. Ironically, the election also shows the low accountability of Russia in many aspects. In fact, the fraud of the election shows the low accountability of the government, because the voting process is essentially ignored, which defeats the sole purpose of having an election.
In Russia, since people could barely know what the government is doing since the political efficacy in Russia is low and most information are censored by the government in Russia. In addition, corruption is an important in Russia, in accordance to the Corruption index, Russia ranked 133/176, which is same as Iran and Kazakhstan. And according to the experts in US, the market for corruption in Russia has exceeded $240 billion US dollars. Therefore, we see that the people in Russia barely know what their government is doing.
Political Efficacy
Russia's political efficacy is quite low. However, many people are reported to be willing to sacrifice their "democratic rights" for economic and political stability. Even so, a great majority of people are discontent about not having a say in the government. Since Gorbachev's time, Russians' wish for freedom of speech is clearly presented. When Gorbachev launched the glasnost, he received many criticism from that people that were angered by the long repression. Similarly, as democracy became more and more prominent, more Russians are starting to desire this freedom. However, the government controls the media very strictly, and the lack of freedom of speech is a major reason for the low political efficacy in Russia
Accountability
In the 19th century, there were uncertainties regarding Russia's legitimacy due to the coups and internal conflicts between the Duma and the president. However, the change of president from Yeltsin to Putin went on without much conflict. This strengthens the confidence of people towards the constitution. Ironically, the election also shows the low accountability of Russia in many aspects. In fact, the fraud of the election shows the low accountability of the government, because the voting process is essentially ignored, which defeats the sole purpose of having an election.