POL354H1 Lecture 5: The 1990s Democratization
Document Summary
When the rules of electoral process are clear, and results are uncertain. Need for successor because of elite interests at stake. Should abandon communism for some form of socialism. Military assault on supreme soviet - at least 158 dead. People still mostly supported yeltsin --> saw the protestors as radicals. Full control over army, police security, foreign policy. Unequal status: 21 are ethnic republics (former sovereign states), 89 are regions. 1994 - federal treaty between tatarstan and russia. Main opponent was the leader of the communist party - gennady zuganov. Loans for shares program - oligarchs got major industries in oil and metallurgy for incredibly low prices e. g. yukos oil company. Regional authorities and conservative bureaucrats vs. oligarchs - "the family" Terrorist attacks of 1999 attributed to chechen rebels. Population rallying around putin because of terrorist attacks - support for war. Appointed as president before presidential elections --> 1/2 before election.
