Russia has always been a country shaped by authoritarian to totalitarian power structures during its history. Already under the rule of Tsar Nicholas II. the population wanted to break away from their autocratic forms of rule. An improvement in prosperity for the benefit of the population was hoped with the October Revolution in 1917. But the seizure of power by the Bolsheviks under the leadership of Lenin did not achieve the equality of the population hoped for by the communist ideology. The degree of autocracy and repression against the own citizenship especially under Stalin has intensified and turned into totalitarianism. After the death of the dictator Stalin it was slowly possible to break away from the strongly totalitarian structures, but not to become a liberal democracy until now.
With the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 initial developments towards democratization under Gorbachev and Yeltsin who was the first free elected president has happened. But since the rule of Putin and Medvedev since 2000 a development towards authoritarian structures has been recognizable. These structures have strengthened over the years as Putin has secured his rule as a de facto sole autocrat through constitutional reforms. In the following essay applying the theories of Juan Linz of authoritarianism and totalitarianism and the theory of defective democracy from Wolfgang Merkel first will be defined which characteristics make up an authoritarian regime and how they distinguish themselves from totalitarianism. This analysis will then be carried out primarily about the historical developments of Russia and their current status in 2022. Evaluations of the Country Report 2022 from the portal Freedom House will finally present the current degree of freedom and democracy in Russia.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Features of Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism
- According to Juan Linz
- Defective democracy according to Wolfgang Merkel
- Analysis of the form of rule from Lenin until Putin
- October Revolution in 1917
- Russia under the totalitarian regime of Stalin (1927-1953)
- The End of the Soviet Union and the beginning of the Russian Federation (1953-1999)
- The current situation under Putin (2000-now)
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to analyze the historical development of Russia's political system, focusing on the evolution from authoritarian to totalitarian structures and its current status in 2022. This analysis will be conducted through the lens of established theories of authoritarianism and totalitarianism by Juan Linz and the theory of defective democracies by Wolfgang Merkel. The work explores the characteristics that define authoritarian regimes and distinguish them from totalitarian systems, with a focus on Russia's historical developments and current political landscape.
- The evolution of Russia's political system from authoritarianism to totalitarianism
- The impact of key figures like Lenin, Stalin, Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin on Russia's political trajectory
- The role of ideology in shaping Russian political structures
- The comparison between authoritarianism and totalitarianism, utilizing the theories of Juan Linz and Wolfgang Merkel
- The current state of freedom and democracy in Russia, drawing on insights from Freedom House's Country Report 2022
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the analysis by highlighting Russia's historical tendency towards authoritarian and totalitarian rule, tracing the desire for change through the October Revolution and the subsequent consolidation of power by the Bolsheviks under Lenin. It also foreshadows the evolution of the political system, emphasizing the shift towards authoritarianism under Putin.
- Features of Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism: This chapter delves into the theoretical foundations of authoritarianism and totalitarianism, primarily using Juan Linz's framework. It defines the characteristics of limited pluralism, the dominance of mentalities over ideologies, and the distinction between these forms of governance.
- Analysis of the form of rule from Lenin until Putin: This chapter provides a historical analysis of Russia's political development, focusing on key periods and figures. It examines the October Revolution, the totalitarian regime of Stalin, the transition following Stalin's death, and the current situation under Putin.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This essay focuses on the analysis of Russia's political system, drawing on key concepts and themes such as authoritarianism, totalitarianism, defective democracy, political evolution, ideology, limited pluralism, mentalities, and the impact of historical figures like Lenin, Stalin, Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin. The work utilizes the theories of Juan Linz and Wolfgang Merkel to understand the distinction between authoritarianism and totalitarianism and how they manifest in Russia's political history and current state. Finally, it analyzes current freedom and democracy in Russia based on Freedom House's Country Report 2022.
- Quote paper
- Niclas Spanel (Author), 2022, How authoritarian is Russia? Analysis of the form of rule from Lenin until Putin, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1278311
