Nationalism and authoritarianism in Russia: Introduction to the special issue

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taras Kuzio
Keyword(s):  
Political System ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
The West ◽  
Introductory Article ◽  
Russian President ◽  
Russian Politics ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
The Impact

This article discusses different aspects of the political evolution of Russian President and former Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and the impact of his evolution upon the type of regime that has evolved from soft authoritarianism to a ‘militocracy‘ and ‘consolidated authoritarian regime.’ The article discusses eight contributions to this special issue by placing them within the broader context of how the West misread two areas pertaining to Russia. The first is how the West by wrongly believing that Russia, being a member of G8, the NATO-Russia Council and other Western structures, continued to be interested in becoming a Western political and economic system. The second is the tradition, stretching back to Sovietology, of ignoring and downplaying the issue of how the nationalities question and different nationalisms interact with democratic revolutions, transitions and, specifically, with Russian politics. The introductory article next discusses the eight contributions within the context of: Russian messianism, the Russkii Mir (Russian World), how and when nationalists and fascists became mainstream in Russian politics, Putin’s great power nationalism, Ukrainophobia and Russian chauvinism, historical myths and re-Stalinization of Putin’s political system. The final section compares Russia’s invasions of Georgia and Ukraine in 2008 and 2014 respectively and the growing xenophobia in Russian foreign policy.

Wealth versus political power: the Russian case

2004 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Shlapentokh
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Political Power ◽  
Complete Control ◽  
Contemporary World ◽  
Russian President ◽  
Rich People ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

The interplay between the state and the super rich has been a subject of intense debate since the time of Aristotle, who introduced the notion of oligarchs and the oligarchic regime as the ruling of a few rich people. The ideologically loaded debates about the role of wealthy people in society can be found in each country in the contemporary world. In recent times, the fact that Silvio Berlusconi is both Italy’s prime minister and the richest person in the country (who has almost complete control over Italian TV) has aroused intense debates about the impact of big business on politics (Stille, 2003). It is not surprising that the case of the Italian prime minister draws attention in Russia, where he is often compared to both the Russian president as well as to the oligarchs (Remnik, 2003). A dramatic struggle between Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, whose wealth was estimated before his arrest at eight-billion dollars,1 unfolded in the summer and fall of 2003. This conflict will likely be recounted in any future textbook that discusses the relationship between political power and big money.

Ramzan Kadyrov: The Indigenous Key to Success in Putin's Chechenization Strategy?

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 659-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Russell
Keyword(s):  
Final Stage ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Head Of State ◽  
Russian President ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
Rapid Transformation

On 15 February 2007 Vladimir Putin accepted the resignation of Alu Alkhanov as President of Chechnya and nominated the Chechen prime minister—Ramzan Kadyrov—to act as his successor. This appointment, duly rubber-stamped by Chechnya's parliament, brought to an end to more than four months of speculation since 5 October 2006, when Kadyrov attained the age of 30 and thus became eligible for the post of Chechnya's head of state. Kadyrov's elevation to de jure rather than de facto supremacy in Chechen society not only completed the final stage of the remarkably rapid transformation of this one-time rebel, juvenile thug and political ingénue but also put Putin's policy of Chechenization firmly back on track, which had been effectively derailed since the assassination of Chechnya's first pro-Russian president—Akhmad Kadyrov—Ramzan's father, in May 2004.

Trump UK visit carries risks for May

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Free Trade ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Military Cooperation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Russian President ◽  
Vladimir Putin

Significance The visit, sandwiched between the July 11-12 NATO Summit and July 16 meeting of Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, returns UK Prime Minister Theresa May's trip to Washington in January 2017. Impacts The post-Brexit UK-EU deal could scupper a UK-US free trade deal. Trump’s visit may see some new UK-US business deals, and new security and military cooperation pledges. New UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will need to build ties with Trump and his administration.

scholarly journals A brief history of news making in Russia

Journalism ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 146488492094195
Author(s):  
Ilya Yablokov ◽  
Elisabeth Schimpfössl
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Media Environment ◽  
Media Control ◽  
Journalism Studies ◽  
Introductory Article ◽  
The Us ◽  
History Of ◽  
Political Intervention ◽  
The Impact

In this introductory article to our special issue on newsmaking in Russia, we provide a context for how the study of journalism evolved in Russia in contrast to Europe and the US. This brief historical overview helps make sense of the specific trajectory of journalism studies: from normative Cold War perspectives to a highly diverse and vibrant field that considers journalistic agency, the interplay of commercialisation and media control and the complexities of a rapidly changing media environment. The contributions to this special issue present nuanced approaches to self-censorship, the impact of digital technologies and political intervention.

Left-Wing Populism

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Liargovas ◽  
Nikolaos Tzifakis
Keyword(s):  
Political System ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Left Wing ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Introductory Article ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Complex Picture ◽  
Interesting Story ◽  
A Minor

Abstract The transformation of syriza from a minor party struggling to enter parliament into a major governing party within a short period of time, its rule in the context of an economic crisis, and its resilience following four and a half years of governance make a very interesting story. syriza has been the only radical left populist party that has governed an EU country in recent times. This introductory article accounts for the factors that facilitated syriza’s catapulting to power, while the special issue assesses some of the main issues that the syriza-led government dealt with from 2015 to 2019. With the danger of oversimplifying a more complex picture, the special issue editors argue that syriza emerged as a serious contender to power owing to two factors: i) the errors in the economic policies of the governments that ruled during the 2010–2014 period, and ii) its successful exploitation of the opportunity to capitalize on the dynamics of a grassroots protest movement (the ‘Aganaktismenoi’) through the adoption of the movement’s populist discourses. The introduction then explicates the consolidation of syriza in the Greek political system and concludes with a brief presentation of the structure of the special issue.

The Next Mr. Putin? The Question of Succession

Daedalus ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 146 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-52
Author(s):  
Fiona Hill
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
The State ◽  
State System ◽  
Formal Institutions ◽  
Elite Networks ◽  
Wild Card ◽  
Presidential Succession ◽  
Political Problem ◽  
Russian Politics ◽  
Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin, the person and the president, is the wild card in Russian politics. After what could be a quarter of a century in power by 2024 (either as president or prime minister), Putin's departure could prove utterly destabilizing. Russia's principal political problem is determining who or what replaces Putin as the fulcrum of the state system in the decade ahead. This essay considers the question of whether “Putin's Russia” – a hyperpersonalized presidency supported by informal elite networks – can transform into a depersonalized system that is rooted in formal institutions with clear, predictable mechanisms to mitigate the risks of a wrenching presidential succession.

Hungary's trying to revive Western ties may fall short

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Short Interval ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Central European ◽  
The Past ◽  
Tv Advertising ◽  
Russian President ◽  
Angela Merkel ◽  
Foreign Media ◽  
Vladimir Putin

Subject Budapest's balancing between traditional and non-traditional ties. Significance Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently received two important visitors in Budapest: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (February 2) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (February 17). The short interval between them is symbolic of Hungary's foreign-policy balancing act. However, the Fidesz government's 'Eastern opening' strategy has increasingly shown its limits in the past year, prompting Orban to make gestures towards his Western allies. Impacts Central European allies are likely to distance themselves further from Hungary following Putin's visit to Budapest. Despite addressing discriminatory taxes on TV advertising, political control will continue to limit foreign media investments. Anti-Russian sentiment within Hungarian public opinion may open a window of opportunity for opposition parties.

Tactical needs will shape Israeli ties with Russia

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Good Communication ◽  
The Third ◽  
Security Relations ◽  
Russian President ◽  
International Engagement ◽  
Vladimir Putin

Subject Drivers and constraints in Israeli engagement with Russia Significance Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited Moscow on June 7 for the third time in under nine months. His frequent meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin reflect his irritation with US President Barack Obama as well as a desire for more diverse international engagement. He also needs to ensure good communication on military actions in Syria given that Russian and Israeli interests are so disparate. Impacts The appointment of a pro-Russian defence minister in Israel, Avigdor Lieberman, should improve security relations. While supplying arms to Iran, Russia will press Israel not to supply arms to Ukraine. Putin's encouragement for Israel to revive ties with Turkey may indicate he wants a similar thaw with Ankara.

Prospects for Russian politics in 2016

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Economic Situation ◽  
Russian Foreign Policy ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Elite Level ◽  
Russian Politics ◽  
Vladimir Putin

Subject Prospects for Russian politics in 2016. Significance This has been another challenging year for President Vladimir Putin. Russian foreign policy adventures have plunged relations with the West to a new low, the economy continues to struggle and the assassination of Boris Nemtsov has exposed elite-level divisions. However, although the economic situation has forced the Kremlin to restrain budgetary spending, Russia's opposition is weak and demoralised.

Japan-Russia island deal recedes as positions harden

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Peace Treaty ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Military Facilities ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
The Southern Kurils

Significance By the time President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met on January 22, it was apparent they were not even close to agreeing how to end the decades-long dispute over the Southern Kurils. They reached no agreement apart from committing to work on less controversial areas of cooperation and to carry on discussing the dispute. Impacts Gaining the upper hand in talks with Japan is a plus for Russia given its troubled ties with the West. Moscow will cite Tokyo's US military ties as obstacles to signing a peace treaty. Russia will continue to provoke and ignore Japanese anger by conducting exercises and building military facilities on the Southern Kurils.

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