Russia Resurgent Russia Resurgent Should we again

Russia Resurgent

Russia Resurgent Should we again fear the Russian bear? • bare? • Russia’s return to “not free” •

The Russian Style of Democracy 1. The State of Russian Democracy - Bad News/Good News 2. A Russian Democracy – Russian Political Culture 3. Brief Overview of Russian/Soviet History 4. The Demise of the USSR – The Power of Ideas 5. Why Do We Care – Implications 6. Shameless Book Plug

The Russian Style of Democracy n 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The Bad News The Appointment of Regional Governors The Yukos Prosecution Interference in Ukraine’s Election Increased Media Control Abuses in Chechnya & the Military Georgia incursion Putin’s return in purported fraudulent election

The Russian Style of Democracy n 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The Good News Public Opinion on Putin The Recent Protests Response to the Kursk Tragedy Ukraine’s Orange Revolution Cooperation on GWOT Putin’s Apparent Willingness to Step Aside, (sort of) for Medvedev, but come back.

The Russian Style of Democracy Last year: in four Russian cities thousands took to the streets to protest cuts in pensions. Hundreds blocked key highways in Northern Ossestia to protest government handling of the Beslan tragedy.

The Russian Style of Democracy Russian Government’s Response to the 2000 Sinking of the Submarine Kursk Soviet Response to the Previous 24 Cold War Accidents

The Russian Style of Democracy n Elements of Russian Political Culture 1. Paranoia of Invasion 2. Inferiority/Superiority Complex 3. Relative Value of Human Life/Value of numbers 4. Stoic Acceptance of Authority & Hardship 5. Alcohol

The Russian Style of Democracy The Impact of Russian History • 9 th Century Kievan Rus • Genghis Khan & Mongol Rule • Czarist Expansion 1. Ivan the Terrible, 16 th Century 2. Peter the Great, 17 th Century 3. Catherine the Great, 18 th Century • Napolean’s Invasion

The Russian Style of Democracy Revolution • The Russo-Japanese War 1904 • The Failed Revolutions of 1905 • Creation of the First Duma • WWI & the Abdication of Nicolas II • The Kerensky Government • The October Revolution

The Russian Style of Democracy Stalinization • NEP • Consolidation/Elimination of Trotsky • Forced Collectivization • Five-Year Plans • Molotov-Ribbontrop 1939 • The Great Patriotic War

The Russian Style of Democracy Khrushchev’s Thaw • De-Stalinization and the Secret Speech • “We will bury you” • Virgin Lands Program • Cuban Missile Crisis • Peaceful Coexistance • “The Thaw” • Brezhnev’s Stagnation

The Russian Style of Democracy The Demise of the USSR – The Power of Ideas 1. Gorbachev and his Generation 2. Glasnost, Perestroika and New Thinking 3. The Reagan Revolution 4. The War in Afghanistan 5. Chernobyl 6. The August 1991 Coup

The Russian Style of Democracy Yeltsin’s Kleptocracy • Yeltsin on the tank saves democracy • Potemkin Democracy • Privatization and the New Oligarchs • Forgiveness of debt

The Russian Style of Democracy Yeltsin’s Kleptocracy • Attack on the White House 1993 • The Ruble crisis of 1998 • The First Chechan War 1996

The Russian Style of Democracy Putin’s Arrival • The Second Chechan War 99 • NATO expansion (Particularly Georgia & Ukraine) • Bombing of Serbia • 9/11 • Bush Administration • Overpowered the Oligarchs • Russian sense of betrayal

The Russian Style of Democracy August 2008 Georgia: Who invaded whom?

The Russian Style of Democracy

The Russian Style of Democracy Obama’s Arrival • Hillary resets the relationship – Peregruzka (reset)/Perazagruzka (overcharge) • Georgia/Ukraine in NATO • Sanctions on Iran’s nuclear ambitions • Veto of condemnation of Syria

The Russian Style of Democracy Implications for the West and What the U. S. Should Do • Russian Paranoia • Russian Superiority/Inferiority • Russian Respect for Authority • Russian Value on Human Life

Russia Resurgent Recognize this tourist in Red Square? (1988)

Is the American guy better?

Russia Resurgent Questions?