The document analyzes the political structure and history of Russia, highlighting its evolution from a feudalistic system to a semi-presidential democracy under Vladimir Putin. It discusses the concentration of power, corruption, and censorship within the government, as well as the challenges faced in achieving genuine democracy. The analysis suggests that for Russia to improve, it must reevaluate its leadership and implement proper checks and balances.
The document analyzes the political structure and history of Russia, highlighting its evolution from a feudalistic system to a semi-presidential democracy under Vladimir Putin. It discusses the concentration of power, corruption, and censorship within the government, as well as the challenges faced in achieving genuine democracy. The analysis suggests that for Russia to improve, it must reevaluate its leadership and implement proper checks and balances.
The document analyzes the political structure and history of Russia, highlighting its evolution from a feudalistic system to a semi-presidential democracy under Vladimir Putin. It discusses the concentration of power, corruption, and censorship within the government, as well as the challenges faced in achieving genuine democracy. The analysis suggests that for Russia to improve, it must reevaluate its leadership and implement proper checks and balances.
The document analyzes the political structure and history of Russia, highlighting its evolution from a feudalistic system to a semi-presidential democracy under Vladimir Putin. It discusses the concentration of power, corruption, and censorship within the government, as well as the challenges faced in achieving genuine democracy. The analysis suggests that for Russia to improve, it must reevaluate its leadership and implement proper checks and balances.
Every nation in the world seeks to be efficient & civilized. For this, you of course need government. All modern nations of course have adopted a government, often however varying in their specific structures and implications of power. Everyone has a slightly different opinion on what is a perfect government. Some advocate for tighter government power & control, while others hold more individualistic ideas, rather weary of extensive government ideas. Especially in countries where the general populous is given freedom of speech as well as some say over their leadership, governing is an extensively debated & ratiocinated matter. One such instance is Russia. Early Russia was founded in 862. When starting out, Russia employed a feudalistic political and economic structure. This structure, while imperfect, aided them through the major hardships of the second millennium. Russia seemed to stay an outlier to the other successful European nations. While the nomadic European nations who would go on to conquer other nations, they would very often take up their lifestyles due to necessity. However, Russia, was a sore exception. This was because of how Russia was fundamentally structured. Russia had an abundance of peasants to supply the princes, like most states. Though, when a period of instability came for the working class, most countries did not react well for the peasants. However, Russia began paying the peasants for their labor, a foreign concept. This began the root of the monarchy that Russia would thrive on; one built on & utterly dependent on the labor of the lowest class in order to appease the elites. Following reform in the late 20th century when the Russian Federation emerged, modern Russia is a proclaimed presidential, federal democracy. However, it is more a semi-presidential state rather than presidential, as there are partially parliamentary systems in place. The president would now serve six year terms, in which he would serve as the head of state as well as commander of chief. The president would remain dominant, with the prime minister right below him, who serves as the head of government. Similar to the United States, Russia also employs a thee branch system. There is the Judicial branch, which is primarily comprised of the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and lower federal courts. There is the Executive branch in which the president & prime minister serve. There is also a Legislative branch. Also like the United States, there is a multi-party system in place for elections, however, there is one dominant party. While this reform was structurally fact, Russia remains reminiscent of its ways. For example, Since the Soviet Union fell, Russia has struggled to employ a new political system, seeing as they just exited a seventy five year period of Soviet reign. In one implication of this, legislative and executive leaders had polarizing views of Russia's political future and how they should pursue it. This ensued a conflict in 1993, when President Boris Yeltsin authorized military force to advance against the parliament, calling for new legislative elections. As time passes, Russia only embodies a more absolute political ideology; the ruling man is put into a position of absolute power, above the law and any accountability. Also, Russia still has a major conflict of interest throughout its hierarchy, which only seems to devolve. Due to the systems in place which reward Russian governors who appease the central government with tax exemptions, leaders are inclined to squeeze the aristocracy dry; working the laborers to the bone and acting mostly in self interest. As long as they managed to make meets end for the central government, there was no limit to their demands of the working class. This corruption only increases as you go up in Russian hierarchy, seeing as the fruits for the leader only increase. This is a common them in Russia, old and new; the economical ambitions of the Russian state, who are increasingly exempt, falls on the general peasantry to realize. Much of this system is thanks to Peter The Great. His great reform had set up intense punishment for any peasant to flee, as well 3
as for any leaders who allowed too free a reign for the peasants. This bound Russian hierarchy into the centralized government, in which no one would dare face the repercussions of stepping out of line. While Russia seems to seek change, there is evidently a ways to go. In 1993, the new constitution did certainly resolve many issues and contradictions regarding the decentralization under the Russian Republic 1978 constitution of the. Most of these solutions favored concentration of power to the central government. However, this type of change only reinforces the stigmatized and lopsided structure which Russia has been living on. Currently, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin is following interests which are hard to call a step in the right direction. Federation Council officials have went on record criticizing the State for its lack of coverage regarding regional interests as much as they should be. Vladimir Shumeyko, the speaker of the Federation Council in 1995 went on to criticize the electoral system for overlooking Russia receiving imbalance representation varying by regions. One federal politician expressed that such misdemeanor pipelined discontent among parliament and politicians. One implication which has remained in Russia is its extreme censorship. Regional reporters who would attempt to cover the corruption of governers and such leaders, most often were killed for their efforts. This was a practice about as old as corruption itself among the Russian government. However, Peter the Great’s reform in the 20th century was to mend this practice among others. Alas, the phenomenon continues, as in the 2010s reporters are continually murdered for their attempts. Following his come up to presidency, Putin is extensively pursuing foreign affairs as well as militarization. While the largest country in the world acts in order to further their land, the current land suffers need of reform, and a rebalance of responsibility & security. Since taking office in 2000, Putin has utilized the Russian presidential system to its fullest, being re-elected for four more six year terms, and counting. Putin has cultivated his “United Russia” political party, which has remained extremely dominant since founding. While his presidency has solved some of Russia’s issues, this sovereign party brews the issue of a lack of competition. With minimal trouble being elected, Putin is in a position of extensive power of little question which should be alarming to Russian politicians. While Russia proves to be in a favorable state compared to some decades prior, there is evidently much to be desired. Russia could certainly continue to operate has it has been, and likely without issue. However, I believe if Russia seeks to be a genuine democracy, leadership must be reevaluated in order to reform Russia into a nation with proper checks and balances in order to adequately spread influence and maintain a unity which is founded in mutual interest and security. 4
References
Miate, L. (2023 October 12). The Reforms of Peter the Great. World History Encyclopedia.
