POL112H5 Lecture 7: Russia and Communism
1 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
Defining characteristic is the centralization of power: has allowed for corruption, complacency, and abuse of power. Putin set out to tame russian politics, which had become too noisy, divisive, and tumultuous. Cracked down on oligarchs, regional governors, and the media. Imprisoned and exiled oligarchs who did not show him loyalty: some oligarchs had become billionaires through corrupt deals in gas, minerals, and steel. In 2005, did away with direct election of regional governors: they treated their territory as personal fiefdoms and considered. Kremlin edicts as suggestions: putin replaced them with appointed loyalists, the duma is a rubber-stamp parliament, without checks and balances. In 2000, only one of the top three tv networks were state owned. Some journalists and human rights activists critical of the government have been murdered. Fraud is ingrained into the system, as ballot boxes are routinely stuffed: video proof exists of this electoral fraud.
