The Basics and Functions of Putinism in Russia

International Journal of Political Science ISSN: 2228-6217 Vol 9, No 1, Spring 2019, (pp.1-15)

Jahangir Karami 1*, Mahin Niroomand 2 1 Department of Russian and Eurasian Studies, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran 2 Department of Political Science, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 24 May 2018 ; Accepted: 20 Feb 2019

Abstract: The present Russian political system is tied up with Putin's name; and Putin is considered as a full-fledged political reality. Today's powerful Russia, which has got a new life after the Cold War and the weak collapse period, and has a major impact on global developments including the Middle East, is not understandable except under this title. What inspired writers to analyze Putin's performance is to study the causes of the existence of a personality such as him and the formation of Putinism in today's Russian society. Knowing the performance of Putin and Putinism requires a clear answer to some questions like, why the phenomenon of Putinism in the 21st century whit democratic structure has emerged and persisted, and what is Putinism at all? The hypothesis that will be presented to understand this issue is that the long-standing political culture of Russia and the geographical and historical imperative of Russian nation have led to the emergence and continuation of Putinism in today's Russian society, as well as the security and economic problems of the 1990s, humiliation, pressure, and blockade of the west against Russia is the mainstay of the emergence and continuation of Putinism. To investigate the hypothesis of research, firstly we examine the system of pseudo- democracy and then we will discuss Putin's functions and behaviors in the economic, political, and social spheres. Finally, we will discuss about the Russian domestic context and the external factors that led to the formation of Putinism.

Keywords: Putin, Putinism, Political system, Authoritarianism, Pseudo-democracy, Russia

Introduction In recent years, Putin has been known as a ence in international politics and challenged famous politician in the world. Entering the strategic conditions in the Middle East. In the Middle East scene, he highlighted his pres- past two decades, Putin has become a great

*Corresponding Author’s Email: [email protected]

The Basics and Functions of Putinism in Russia

international reality, and this name has been authors try to investigate this article by ana- used not only in Russia to understand the lyzing and criticizing the data and discussion Russian politics, but also in the world to un- of experts and scientists of Russia. derstand international equations. After a dec- The Russian economy relies on the vast ade of turmoil and chaos in Russia, his ac- energy resources and president Vladimir Pu- tions led to order, stability, and peace in the tin takes this responsibility due to its wealth country. Although Russia has faced problems of resources. He has been able to emancipate at the political, social, and economic level Russia from the anarchic situation of the over the past 15 years, but compared to the Yeltsin era and to bring about the current Yeltsin's ten-year period, the situation has state of harmony, but despite the creation of been much better and safer, and recent polls security and the integration in the country, he in Russia show that Putin has had a very high has been criticized. Among these criticisms is popularity, yet. What made Putinism famous the formation of the oligarchic government is this fact that he created a relatively unde- and the monopoly of huge energy resources mocratic and reliance on a circle of power, in its circle and its followers. Since the infra- which turned the ballot box and parliamenta- structure of the Russian society lacks a na- ry system into an apparent phenomenon. So, tional bourgeoisie, it is clear that this country different analysts used the notion of Putinism was unable to accept a different kind of Capi- to refer to a kind of political system based on talism (namely the western developed capi- the constitution, people's vote, different elec- talist) except for state capitalism or peripher- toral structures, and a fairy free economy. al capitalism. In these type of systems, the The purpose of this research is to study institution of the state has changed and bu- the cultural, economic, and political back- reaucracy is growing very strongly because grounds of present Russia to review its politi- the state is completely dominated in all insti- cal system, and to introduce us one of the tutions. In other words, in modern Russia, most important components necessary for the the state apparatus oligarchies is organized in recognition of the today Russia. However, such a way as to serve oligarchy, it means the our discussion in this article is not related to state and its oligarchies are the same. To an- Putin's performance in foreign policy, but swer the questions and examines the hypo- rather is about the military formation of Pu- thesis, first we examine the system of pseu- tinism in Russia. In this respect, the authors do-democracy and then we will discuss about focus on Putin's behaviors in various politi- Putin's act and behavior in the economic, po- cal, economic, and social spheres, and litical, and social spheres; and finally the is- through examining these behaviours and sue we are discussing about, will be the Rus- practices in the contexts of internal condi- sian domestic bases and the external factors tions and external factors, finds an appropri- that led to the formation of Putinism. ate answer to the question of why the phenomenon of Putinism emerges and persists in First. Theoretical Foundation : Pseudo- the 21st century's Russia with the democratic democratic Political System structure. The main hypothesis regarding the One of the important issues to understand the security and economic problems of the government's policies is their typology. Polit- 1990s, would be the humiliation, pressure, ical systems are very diverse in the fields of and blockade of the west against Russia. The theory and practice, and there are different

International Journal of Political Science, Vol 9, No 1, Spring 2019 types of political systems in today's world. ward a free and fair election, hopping that Here are some of the political systems dis- this election would led to a liberal western cussed and interpreted by theorists of politi- style democracy; it also begins a series of cal thoughts. These systems include democ- economic reforms in the early 1990s, hop- racy/ social democracy/ authoritarianism/ ping to create a western style capitalism, but totalitarianism/ conservative state/ liberal most of them failed” (Zakaria, 103 : 2006). state/ communist government/ and ultimately Societies that pass from tradition to mod- the foundations and elements of the forma- ernity are involved in such systems. Indeed, tion of the Pseudo-democratic system and its they are somewhere between democracy and functioning. In the pages that follow, our goal authoritarianism systems. In pseudo- demo- is to look at a Pseudo-democratic Political cratic systems, people have the right to vote, system with a theoretical overview of the elections are hold, and the political parties various political system in two parts of public compete with each other, but all of these are and certain forms, and by modeling it, pro- done at the surface level and in fact govern- vide a platform for a more accurate under- ments are ruled out invisibly. In such socie- standing of Putin's political system. The issue ties, if an institution or organization threathen of pseudo-democracy has emerged in devel- the government, will be easily excluded from oping countries. In these type of systems, participation in the political process. The political life is neither totally democratic nor voices of the oppositions are rarely heared totally totalitarian. Such countries essentially and the media are completely under control. involve the process of modernization and In these countries, three historical resolutions development, and the transition from tradi- have been the pattern of the organization of tion to modernity and the conflicts arising political and social life: firts, the French from these conditions prevent the establish- revolution; second, the industrial revolution; ment of democracy and totalitarianism, as and third, the Russian revolution with the well as the traditional social structure of the pattern of the former Soviet Union. Ideas dispersed and abandoned possibility of the such as constitutionality, constitution, nation- full establishment of a modern political sys- al sovereignty, nationality and democracy tem, whether democratic or totalitarian (Ba- were derived from the political model of shiriyeh, 167 : 2003). French Revolution. All of these concepts If the features of a Pseudo-democratic contradicted the indigenous political systems system exist in a monarchy, it is usually called of autocracy and traditional patriarch, theo- the developmental dictatorship or benevolent cracy, sheikh-salary, and so on. Although tyranny that has been called the legal tyranny each of these systems in inevitably adapted in Russia. According to Fareed Zakaria, Rus- some of that thought and made strange, intel- sia is not considered as a liberal democratic lectual, and political mixtures. (Bashiriyeh, country. He talks about non-liberal democra- 167 : 2003) cy. In this kind of democracy, there are no The industrial revolution has been the public satisfaction and no rule of law. economic pattern of many of these countries In the book, of titled, “The Future of to industrialize economic growth and moder- Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and nization. Naturally, the combination of the Abroad”, he wrote: "after the collapse of requirements of the economic model of the communism, Russia immediately moved to- industrial revolution and political pattern of

The Basics and Functions of Putinism in Russia

the French Revolution in the developing as the last resort to guarantee the continuation countries have been very difficult. The third of the existing regime. Pseudo-democratic pattern, the government pattern of the Rus- systems often cover all form of authoritarian, sian Revolution, with emphasis on a power- such as resorting to force, intense monitoring, ful, planetary, and great state, was in conflict abetting and culturing personality to a limited with the legacy of the political model of the extent, which undermines the credibility of French Revolution. The main problem of democratic procedures. Political leaders many developing countries has been to create resort to traditional and charismatic legitima- a modern state structure (divorced, bureau- cy and, at the same time, participate in a sys- cratic, and new). Hence, the pattern of the tem that must be fundamentally rational and Russian Revolution could not be used proper- limited to the rules. This will also lead to low ly (BasBashiriyeh,168, 2003). credibility of democracy, because this temp- The Pseudo-democracy system is general- tation comes at the top leaders who do not ly based on the foundation of the transition need to adhere to the rules and criteria by period and its specific conditions. In other designing specific claims about their authori- words, the pseudo-democracy is the product ty (O' Neal, 2012 : 179-180). of the transition from an authoritarian system Positive functions of pseudo-democracy to a democratic system. In this situation, the system include the creation of an order conscious and unconscious government nei- against chaos, the emergence of the growth ther can allow a broad democracy nor can against non-development, the emergence of stand against it. This system has many exam- justice against injustice, and the existence of ples in eastern and southeast Asia countries. social and welfare services against the class Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, system. At the end, the following analytical and Singapore can be considered as the most model will be presented as a summary of the pseudo-democracy systems. topics: An important feature of these systems is that focus, authority, and control are not just Substrate Swift Independent Dependent used for the rulling person but are used to variables variables variables variables reduce chaos and create a condition for growth and development, too. Some coun- Political Contempt Economic culture and interna- and secu- tries have a democratic outlook, that is a con- Putinism stitution, a chamber whose members are and tional rity prob- necessity pressure lems elected by popular vote, a judicial organiza-

tion, and a garantee of freedom of speech Indexes Indexes and assembly, but in practice, all organiza- The state capitalist tions move in a way that keeps the statesmen economy Putin's government atti- in power. In particular, the characteristics of - Chechen crisis tudes in politics, econom- the Pseudo-democratic system include the - the existence of ics, media security, and existence of a political parasitic leadership, mafia communications weak political institutions, the lack of inter- - corruption and Bi- dependence among peoples legitimized by bery the election to the power of their leader. Pseudo-democracies may buy or spoof votes

International Journal of Political Science, Vol 9, No 1, Spring 2019

Second. Russia's Post-collapse feature of which was an international compe- The Soviet Union was in a very chaotic situa- tition, the arms race, and the emergence of tion in 1991. The limited reforms sparked honor events such as the Cuban missile crisis. people's passion for further change. The end The two superpowers began a period of the of communism in Eastern Europe has led to detent, in which peaceful coexistence be- more stimulation of opposition in the Soviet tween the two sides was considered as the Union. In the meantime, ethnic and nationa- main goal. But this course lasted less than a listic conflicts intensified as different ethnic decade. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and national groups, each sought political in 1979, which was to continue the survival gain. The situation after the 1991 coup of the Communist regime in decline, as well caused separation of the republics that as the election of Ronald Reagan, as the pres- formed the Soviet Union, from each other. In ident of the United States in 1980, caused the this process of deconstruction, the desire of relations between the two countries to blur. the ethnic groups in each of these republics Reagan, who called the Soviet Union a had an important impact. So. the soviet union Colonial Empire, launched a new policy to divided into 15 newly independent states, strengthen US military power. But the grow- which Russia was one of them. These repub- ing economic downturn in the Soviet Union lics (with the exception of the Baltic states created major problems for the Kremlin to including Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia), face this costly challenge. At the same time, shortly after the incident, formed an inter- in a situation where the United States and the connected confederacy known as the ccom- Soviet Union entered a new and costly cold monwealth of independent states. Each of war period, a new generation of political these countries was forced alone to face the leaders in the Soviet Union took over power, problems of creating a political, economic, including Mikhail Gorbachev (O' Neal, 279 : and social system over the ruins of commun- 2012). One of the main reasons for separatist ism ( O' Neal, 282, 2012). By the beginning activity can be seen in the economic potential of the collapse of the Soviet empire in the of these republics, because the Chechen Tatar late 1980s, the nationalists feelings in the or Kashghrstan regions had a lot of wealth Baltic republics, which forcefully and con- and resources. On one hand, due to high trary to their desire to join the Soviet Union economic resources and high populations, at the end of the second world war, were de- and that is, western aid and guidance led to molished, and in March 1990, the parliament tensions in the region, such as Chechenya. of all republics voted for their independence But these republics that were financially de- (Toloui, 451 : 2012). A demonstration of the pendent on the central government were in a North Caucasian Democratic forces, shortly more conservative politics. After the defeat before the start of the war, proved the inabili- of the 1991 coup, Gorbachev resigned from ty of former Soviet leaders in Russian nation- the post of General Secretary of the Com- al politics (Bonavita, 160, 2010). munist Party and the European countries, Two factors contributed to the sudden col- then the world gradually recognized the Bal- lapse of communism: the first one was the re- tic republics (Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia) as emergence of the cold war conflict between independent republics. After the indepen- the Soviet Union and the united states. After dence of the Baltic republics, the republics of the decades of the 1950s and 1960s, the main Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan,

The Basics and Functions of Putinism in Russia

soon announced their independence (Koolaei, economy of the former Soviet Union super- 251 : 2001 ). power. After the oligarchs, at a later stage, In the introduction of the book, tilted, the "new Russians" were smaller employers, "Russia in the Hands of Mafia", Hanse which they also were able to earn conces- pointed out that the most important reason for sions. But they did not have real power. Po- the collapse of the Soviet Union was that litical - business gangs were created who Marxist and Leninist doctrines did not pay united the government bureaucrats, public attention to the criminal attitude of the econ- figures, and employers. The battle over the omy and the socialists and communists distribution of property among theses gangs trusted in the correctness of the theory and represented a major component of political made others to expropriation of landowners, life and the main form of competition. The financiers, and founders of Soviet power, to same "political capital" took control of pub- put an end to the abuse of economic power. lic-private group media. In the midst of de- During the 1990s, Russia experienced a full - fining and praising freedom of speech, cen- scale economic catastrophe. Industrial pro- sorship was reestablished effectively in most duction declined by 50%, the level of life media outlets. It was censorship that was not declined dramatically, and the average life formal, but a private one, which unlike the span was reduced. Soviet era, had no place to complain about it Russia's oligarchy, not in the process of ( Kagarlytsky, 2009, 230-321). modernization of the country, but in the pe- ☆ Nomenclature was a class of managers riod of corruption and decay of the Soviet and owners of capital in the decades of So- system was formed; and its capital, not viet regime that controlled and enjoyed polit- through the formation of a new economic ical and legal immunity. institution but through redistribution of the The former Soviet regime really col- properties, accumulated and proved proper- lapsed. What is the political bill of the new ties to be an anti-nationalization. In other regime? There is no political prisoner in the words, the oligarchic capitalism in Asia was new regime, but tyranny is dominated in the a manifestation of a "peaceful revolution" executive branch, civil liberties were ob- and in Russia was a social product of a kind tained and political freedoms were in opera- of reconstruction. Corruption became the tion but the separation of the legislature, the only national criterion for decision making. executive, and the judiciary was mocked. But old Nomenclature, despite having a great Glasnost was the title of discussions in the deal of redistribution of property, was forced media for some time, but the ruling powers to accept newcomers. Industrial, real estate, did not have the necessary transparency. and mining factories were transferred to sub- Freedom of information was the ultimate vic- tle managers who were elected by the party tory of society, and newspapers and televi- and government agents to act like lawyers. In sion channels were independent of the state practice, the same managers had a large share and were not part of the financial and lobby of the property, although the old Nomencla- groups of the government. Freedom of the ture did not go away. This was the process press has often lost its mission and became that took the lead in the emergence of "oli- the place to settle the opposing groups, and garchies", that is, more than forty super-rich defamation could not always be considered people who controlled a large volume of the as the detriment of the opposition. The ideo-

International Journal of Political Science, Vol 9, No 1, Spring 2019 logical press gave its place to ordinary news- adapt themselves to new realities and create papers. All of these led to a dangerous illu- new collective identities for themselves ( O' sion for Russia about democracy and free- Neal, 2012 : 296). dom. Democracy was not considered as re- With the arrival of the fall of 1999, it be- spect for other's liberty and a kind of legal came clear to everyone that the Yeltsin's era regulation (Scott, 2012: 364). is approaching its end in Russia. The issue The Soviet Union, after France, had the was not just that, according to the 1993 con- second largest place in the world in terms of stitution, president (Yeltsin) could not have alcohol and number of drinkers. New violent run for the third time in the presidential elec- and anti-alcohol laws were announced in tion, but basically ended the capacity of the May 1985. Alcohol consumption in the So- political and economic model that had viet Union reduced the average age of Soviet emerged from the coup of 1993. The group of citizens. Drinking in the Soviet Union was a oligarchies, in which there were differences, very harmful phenomenon. This was the case but united in control of the country, split into since the Tsars era. Along with rising eco- hostile groups and fought with each other nomic benefits and revenues from selling until the last breath (Kagarlyinsky, 2009 : alcoholic beverages to the extreme drinking 367). Yeltsin, besides his own office, did not costs of the people, the problems have also turn to other institutions of the country. He risen. Increasing crimes, lack of work, fre- always weakened the parliament and the quent absences, increased in capacity child- courts. He pursued a brutal war in Chechnya ren of alcoholic parents, alcohol-related ill- and did not give any consideration to the nesses all put heavy burdens on the national usual consultation processes, let alone re- economy of the Soviet Union. Unofficial sta- straint. In the last months of his presidency, tistics showed that even the level of the gov- Yeltsin did something that was called a coup ernment liquor did not increase the amount of by historian Richard Pipes (who had sup- consumption, and the sale of counterfeit liq- ported Yeltsin severely): he resigned six uor contributed more to the health of the months before the presidential election, and community (Koolaei, 2001: 171). Communi- appointed his prime minister, Vladimir Putin, ties in the post-communist countries, like the as assistance president. By doing this, the political and economic systems, experience upcoming presidential election was irrele- fundamental changes. During communist vant, namely the adoption of power rather domination, a single interpretation of human than a real struggle (Zakaria, 2006: 102). relations was presented, while, after the col- The Yeltsin's team, held in power in the lapse of communism, people saw a more uncer- year 91, had a plan called "500 Days", which tain future. Those societies that had passed the changed 500-day communist and socialist communist era were now more likely to have a models of the country in the model of liberal more liberal way of doing individual activities, American-European capitalism. Yeltsin's however, this possibility was more risky. team was not politics. They were some re- The removal of the universal ideology of searchers. To make reforms, they decided to people's lives created a social vacuum that democratize informally (Zand Shakibi, Tem- should be filled somehow. In all of these plate Discourse Dialogue: No 78 :8). Yeltsin countries, the transition from communism did not do anything for the construction of was a painful process, because people had to political institutions in Russia.

The Basics and Functions of Putinism in Russia

Indeed, he actively weakened almost all Caucasus, with the independence of ethnic the rivals' centers of power, such as parlia- and religious groups -most affected by Islam- ments, courts, and local governors. In 1993 ism in Afghanistan- and in many cases op- constitution that he left for Russia is a disas- pressed their military has paid. But it has al- ter, a law that created a weak parliament, a ways been blamed by Europeans and Ameri- dependent judiciary, and an unbeatable presi- cans and, in some cases, have been squeezed dent. Perhaps most sadly, Yeltsin did not es- by the region. For instance, in the case of tablish a political party (Zechariah, 2006: Chechnya, during the 1990s, there were 106). Yeltsin has been described as someone many criticisms and protests on behalf of the who has devastating genius: he destroyed the West. Soviet Union and the Communist Party, as he watched the collapse of the Russian econo- Third. The Emergence of Putinism in the my. Some even saw this as a strong personal- Russian Political Arena ity (he paved the field, and created new con- Vladimir Putin was born on October 7, 1952, ditions). Others saw Yeltsin as a complete in Leningrad (current St. Petersburg) visualization of the most compelling facets of (Bloksky, 9: 2003). His father was a Navy the Russian soul and the most shameful fea- commander. Vladimir spent his childhood ture of the Russian national character: irres- and education era in poverty. He was a clever ponsibility, trust in one's luck, ignorance and and smart boy. After graduating from high impoliteness along with humiliation in front school, he was able to take the entrance to the of the stronger, more self-satisfied, and hum- Leningrad State University and pursue his bleness against the West. In short, anything higher education in law (Toloui, 471: 2012). that has always been in the face of progress Putin started exercising from the age of 11- has been incompatible with European culture 10. In that regard, he says, "Since I realized and freedom and has always been a hindrance that having a good warfare is not enough to to the successful modernization of the coun- be the first to speak on the street and school, I try. This is what preserves tsarism and totali- decided to work in boxing..., but I did not tarianism (Kagarlitsky, 145 : 2009). continue it for a long time and decided to Former US secretary of state, Henry Kis- start Sambo (Gurkan, 2001: 36-38). When singer, in a recommendation to President we talk about Putin, it should be remembered Bush, urged the US foreign policy to support that he played a significant role in his educa- the republic power in the Soviet Union and, tion and personality not only in building his in fact, undermine central authority. He be- sporting life, but also in the development of lieved that the interests of the United States his human personality aspects and in sports. lie in the absence of a concentration of power Although he was not a husky man, but was in the Soviet Union since the emergence of professional (Bloksky, 2003 : 67). In the last centralized Soviet power has always been an year of studying at the university, Putin'S expansionist tendency. He called for the Bal- interview with one of the KGB officials was tic republics to gain independence and called arranged and Putin recruited after the gradua- on Bush to support them (Col. ,2000, p. tion from the university in 1975. 1380). In recent years, the Russians faced Putin describes the last months of his ser- within the borders of the federation and their vice in Germany, which coverage with the peripheral republics in Central Asia and the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the collapse

International Journal of Political Science, Vol 9, No 1, Spring 2019 of the Communist regime of East Germany, sions in Putin's life led him to this present as bitterness; and resigned from KGB after position. First, entering the security service returning from the mission in 1991, and and second, working with Yeltsin. According started working in the municipality of St. Pe- to Delao, these two decisions together helped tersburg. He served as vice mayor in the the Putin's successes to achieve the first place second year of service in the municipality of of power (White Flower, 236: 2011). On Oc- St. Petersburg and during the struggle with tober 7, 2012, Vladimir Putin has been 60 mafia groups in the city, rejoined the new years old. According to Article 317 of the Russian security organization FSB, which Constitution of the Russian Federation, the replaced the former KGB. president at this age should resign, otherwise In the course of the Yeltsin election cam- his presidency would not be legitimate. But paign, Putin takes over Yeltsin's presidential Putin, however, cheated to run for prespre- campaign in St. Petersburg in the run-up to sidency in two periods, and his presidency is the presidency of Russia, joining the presi- illegitimate now. From the characteristic fea- dential office in 1996. In 1998, according to tures of Putinis, oppression, feudalism, fasc- the records of Putin, Derek G.G appointed ism, and the oligarchic rule can be named him to the presidency of the new Russian during the history of the blend in the socio- security organization, and in the summer of political forms of Russia. 1999, he appointed him as prime minister in Putin used clever methods to keep people an unexpected step. in his circle around. He colluded with Che- Within five months serve as the prime chen bandit, extremist jews, fanatical ortho- minister, Putin took effective steps to fight dox and greedy entrepreneurs. As his unli- corruption, suppressed mass mafia groups mited power increased, gangs grew. Al- and eestablished security in the major cities though in 2000, when he came to power, of Russia, and after the resignation of Yeltsin there were pirate and mafia structures since and the patronage of the presidential office, the past times, but they appeared professio- by intensely suppressing the Chechen rebel- nally during the reign of Putin (Poleev, 2012 lion he enjoyed a privileged position among ). The Chechen War was his only winner ace. Russian military and nationalists. In the This war, in a familiar way, was a major tool March 2000 election, in addition to Russian in his election campaign and was the only nationalists, military men and ordinary means the regime had to strengthen its posi- people who wanted security and economic tion in the society. However, the effective well-being, some former communists voted consolidation of the situation required two in favor of Putin's record in the Communist conditions: either a decisive victory or the Party and the Soviet security organization arrival of the enemy at the gates of the capi- (Toloui, 472 : 2012). Putin focused on streng- tal. But none of these two did not materialize. thening the legal framework. He improved The Russian armed forces did not break the his position with the use of the united Rus- resistance of the Chechens, and Bassaev and sian party in the Russian parliamentary elec- Meshkodov did not reach the Kremlin's gates. tions (Koolaei, 91: 2013). Delao believes that Anti-war sentiment grew increasingly in so- Putin's characteristics caused he look at poli- ciety, and opposition to Putin was gradually tics as a career. Referring to Putin's political rooted in the army, including among frontline choice, he explains that two important deci- forces. That is, in the fall of 2000, it became

The Basics and Functions of Putinism in Russia

clear that the situation was getting out of con- most significant factor in the legitimacy of trol and waiting for anything, from the wide- Putinism, which is considerably better than spread escalation of soldiers to rebellion the 19s , is getting erosional (Ferraro, 2011). among military units deployed to the front. During the ruling of Putin, the Kremlin Putin's group succeeded in squeezing opposi- has shown less loyalty to its colleagues, and tion among the electronic media, but now there are many examples of degrading the people were less likely to believe in televi- status of these colleagues. Machiavelli in the sion. Yeltsin has even been able to reverse book, tilted, The Prince said, "how can you the widespread public outbreak of the war, be the ruler of a nation while surrounded by a and this was when the press authored by the group of old colleagues and friends who may opposition to the war after a while prompted be smarter or more experienced than you." the popularity of the president. Putin risked That is why Putin chose Medvedev as his and caused everything exactly against him. successor, who had less experience than his By closing the mouths of the opposition, he older colleagues, and, on the other hand, was deprived of any directing of public opi- another reason for this choice was that it was nion, even though the advertiser's lies had possible that his old colleagues would have always revealed from the curtain (Kagar- been unable to accept his development and lyinsky, 2009: 438-439). reform modalities, and, in addition, Medve- According to the constitution adopted in dev has a more democratic character than 1993, Russia is a democratic country and the others (White Flower, 237: 2011). Waves of basis of this system is political parties. But Pu- American activities (from the establishment tin, like Nicolae III, dismissed opposition par- of US military databases and military forces ties after the 1905 Constitutional Revolution. to the expansion of Western security institu- He also turned the parliament of Russia tions and colored revolutions) have chal- into a positive political force for two months. lenged the vital interests of Russia in this re- This situation can not stand against the ex- gion. The 2008 Ossetian war should be the ecutive branch. At the same time, he set up a culmination of US-Russian opposition in this powerful party in the name of united Russia, region. But it seems Russia's hands in the which runs the country. It is hardly possible region have become more open since last to mention Putin as a dictator. Putinism has summer, after the new Moscow-Washington the appearance of democracy, which may interactions, and despite the persistence of have led the country to democracy once some controversies, the general trend of af- again. According to the political and econom- fairs is not against the interests of Russia. ic journal, "Foreign Policy", the sovereign Moscow has always expected Washington democracy for men and women and young to recognize Russia's security and economic people whose anarchy of the 1990s is a prov- system in the region. The European region is erb that has a long gap with them, is a daily the second priority of Russian foreign policy, insult. They do not compare themselves with and the country's most threatened security are their grandfathers and grandmothers in the still in the erea. The spread of NATO to the Soviet era, and even their fathers and mothers east and the issue of the US missile shield in in the post-Soviet era, but they look at con- Czech and Poland are the most important temporaries of their period in democratic Eu- manifestation of this threat (Karami, 84 : ropean countries and the United States. The 2011).

International Journal of Political Science, Vol 9, No 1, Spring 2019

After the end of Cold war, the rise of ize energy resources as private capital in the Carter- Reagan's military equipment to break monopoly of the state, which managed to the Russian economy became a priority for bring the country's economy to the level of Western politics. Ten years later, Clinton in- the economy of some developed Western tended to increase military spending from $ European countries, such as Italy and France 274 billion to $ 331 billion, and heavily in- (Nikonov, 2015 :391). Putin's pragmatic ap- vested in missile defense. In February 1999, proach can be followed in colored revolu- in a speech on the American intention to raise tions. President's discourse becomes more its military capability, he said: "it does not intense. He plays this role in the Baltic States matter to us who lives in this or that region of Accession to NATO and the European Un- Bosnia, or who owns a tape in the Horn of ion. Putin's pragmatism can be seen in the Africa, or some pieces of land are burned "color revolutions" (Georgia at the end of around the Jordan river; just security is im- 2003 and Ukraine in the late 2004) (Mordo- portant to us and wherever our interests are in vets, 2015). danger, we must defend ourselves (Selfa, Over the past 10 years, despite the super- 1999). Russia recalls the devastating military ficial innovations, there has been a terrible attacks of the Finns, Swedes, Poles, French, detergent of modernization of the economy. and Germans from far away. In the 1970s, it Russia produces not only less than before, reached a strategic alliance with the United but also far behind the Soviet era. This is a States. This situation, however, did not last normal situation for a peripheral capitalism too long, and Washington and its allies, in the (Kagarlinsky,111, 2009). Following the nu- field of non-nuclear warfare, with the revolu- merous failures of neoliberalism and the tion in conventional military technology, complete rejection of the ideology of the provided the technologies of the Third War Russian elite in the 1990s, advancing this of intelligence (Cyber) and tested in Kuwait path requires the regime to change the tone. crisis (1991), Kosovo (1999), Afghanistan Instead of rhetoric about the "common Euro- (2001), and Iraq (2003). (Karami, 193: 2010). pean home" and "return to global civiliza- tion", people were called patriotism and "re- Forth. Function of Putinism in New Russia vival of state power". However, in practice, Putin's economic program was simple: GDP all slogans of the regime were nothing more growth and has doubled in ten years. Putin's than a cover for the continued looting of the practical action as president, strengthening country by local oligarchies and transnational government institutions and creating economic corporations. Putin's regime totally ignored regulations, such as tax tariffs, reducing social the criticisms of Western human rights or- obligations, regulating infrastructure monopo- ganizations and this was the only major dif- ly tariffs, encouraging immigration from the ference between Putin and Yeltsin's foreign former Soviet republics to Russia to carry out policy. This continued disregard for the in- work, freeing private property land, opening ternational norms of human rights defends the doors of economy to global competition, was a true manifestation of Putin's "defense changes in pensions, and other reforms. of sovereignty". With these interpretations, Putin's strate- Meanwhile, Western leaders after a mild gy, especially in the second term, was pre- criticism of the Russian leader for genocide serve and strengthen his government and se- in Chechenya, announced their support for

The Basics and Functions of Putinism in Russia

the Kremlin's new authorities. The reason Indeed, Sochi's Olympic was an unprece- was simple: the economic policy of the Rus- dented scam, brought by the representatives sian authorities was still in line with the in- of the Putin government and Oligarchies terests of the western capitals. In addition, the close to him (Nemtsow, 2013). Russian authorities practically abounded their In general, Putin subjected the Kremlin to claims against NATO's expansionist policy economic sovereignty. Indeed, the economic (Kagarlyinsky, 2009 : 436). base of Putinism is rent-seeking. As a result, Some economic analysts consider Russia economic rule can hardly be a political threat to be a third world superpower, and that is to Putin's system. Corruption, which tied up right because 70% of Russian exports are raw severely into Putinism and reached its worst materials and energy, and this is a third world during the history of Russia, is at the peak of country feature. So along with economic cor- the paralysis of important economic and so- ruption and the government's oligarchy, we cial institutions. But Russian scholar Kagar- are faced with the economic dependence on litsky believes that Russia's current economic the export of raw materials and energy, as model takes the form of a mixed economy well as an economic system in need of for- that incorporates democratic elements of ca- eign technology, under sanctions and inter- pitalism, government governance, and demo- national pressure to curb foreign investment cratic socialism. That is, the Soviet prosthet- and destabilize economic conditions within ics and the collapse of communism are Russia. These are the most important eco- among the consequences of the general crisis nomic problems of the new era, and Putin's of state-oriented economic models. On the government has tried to prevent further sanc- other hand, it should be acknowledged that tions through negotiations and find a solution keeping Russia on the brink of global sys- to put an end to the sanctions. Internally, tems as a supplier of raw materials and the there are plans for modernization and indu- market of consumer products (central) is one strialization, too. Although they have not of the push incentives on the part of the po- succeeded so far, and sanctions have made werful West. Russia's foreign policy has the conditions worse, the government hopes changed dramatically since Vladimir Putin partly resolve the economic needs of Russia and his entourage formally won power in the and resolve these problems through relations Kremlin with the victory of the December with Eastern countries, especially China, In- 2000 presidential election. The focus of the dia, Iran, and etc., Karami, Template Dis- decision-making center in this field and its course Dialogue, No.8). Another presented manifestation in the formation of a small criticism of Putin is about the Sochi Olym- group of central decision makers with securi- pics. Putin launched Sochi Winter Games in ty and information records in the presidency 2014 to increase Russia's prestige and show- is one of the main manifestations of this case his authority in the world, which costs transformation. "Stability" and "security" are higher than the Beijing Olympics, which was two important characteristics of this trans- considered the most expensive game. Ac- formation in Putin's foreign policy, an cording to official statistics, China allocated achievement that Russia did not have in the $43 billion to the 2008 Olympic Games, but Yeltsin presidency. The security men suc- Putin spent $50 billion on the Sochi Olympic ceeded in penetrating the core of the deci- Games. sion-making process of foreign policy,

International Journal of Political Science, Vol 9, No 1, Spring 2019 which was adopted in accordance with the the new Russian identity possible is the co- Russian Constitution of 1993, that is the pres- operation of these two agents at the same idential institution, and its influence on other time. Moreover, contrary to what some major centers of power such as the National people think Putin is escaping ideology, he Security Council, the Ministry of Defense, needs an ideology to act and to create a new the State Department, as well as cartels and Russian identity. Nevertheless, Putin is a large oil and gas companies such as Lukoil, pragmatic individual and on the other hand, Yukos and Gazprom. The result is the coor- is realistic, meaning that he knows the neces- dination of interests, policies, and orientation sities and requirements of the political and of the institutions mentioned in the Kremlin's economic community of Russia and the in- policy in the realm of international politics ternational environment (White Flower, 233: (Kiani, 2006: 165). 2011). Two decades after the collapse of Some writers exaggeratedly praised Pu- communism, the work of Russia and even tin's performance. more sovereign states on democracy and the Vyacheslav Nikonov, in 'Russian Matrix' move towards democratization, has not been says: "under condition of poverty, massive a move forward, and the transition process is crime and terrorism, people are waiting for not well advanced, and even many of these the leadership to restore order and security to countries in many cases move backward and the country. Putin, in the first term of his have fallen back and forth. presidency, decides to prioritize Russia's sur- The reason for this is the continuation of vival. He continues the path of Sergei Witte the same views of the Cold War as a bipolar (the first Russian prime minister) who started view and a one -dimensional definition of the the reform process a hundred years ago. Putin political environment. Freedom of expres- deals with banking and financial reform, sion, alternative sources of information, in- strengthening the military and law enforce- dependent societies, the existence of an inde- ment agencies, and controlling state-owned pendent civil society, free market economics industries. He develops civil society for the and the rule of law are among the features of Russian identity, and in the international are- a plurarist society. But in countries like Rus- na, he has respectful behavior. During his sia, we are witnessing the re-establishment two presidential tem, he managed to make of the concept of a central government and Russia's economy the fifth largest economy the return of historical concepts such as Feu- in the world and promote Russia from the dalism (White Flower, 235: 2011). situation it was in (Sukhnev, 2014 :9). De- spite the crisis in Ukraine, the sanctions, the Conclusion isolation of the country, the collaps of the Russian - dominated democracy has nothing ruble, the decline in oil prices, the rise in to do with the model of Western democra- prices for goods and food, but the president is cies, since Russia's economic, political, and still very popular, and this reminds us of a cultural structures are fundamentally differ- religious leader. Sectarianism like the Protes- ent from western society. Russia over the tant sect (Fedor. Krasheninnikov, 2014 :1). course of history, due to its large geography The success of the consolidation of a new and the invasion of its neighbors from all Russian identity uniquely depends on two sides and domination of the Mongols over the factors: leadership and ideology. What makes course of two centuries, always needed to

The Basics and Functions of Putinism in Russia

have a refuge that can be derived from two added to his ambitious and is sitting on pow- elements: Orthodox religion and the exis- er. The main reason of being the lone chal- tance of powerful states, as those bombers lenger of him in various areas of the country pointed out. The emergence of this need is the inadequacy of the elements of democ- stems from the vacuum of democratic racy in these fields. According to the consti- movements and civil institutions that arose in tution, in 1993, Russia was approved as a the heavens of a tyrannical tsar, powerful democratic state, and as the main elements of leadership, such as Stalin and authoritarian this system are political parties, the only par- president, such as Putin. Russia is a country ty that plays the leading role in the country is that has been in the communist system for Putin (United Russia). The single-party rule about seventy years, and with its socialist in its own nature has a corporatist character system of governance, it is now governed by and creates a variety of government affiliated the state capitalist system. unions to gain its legitimacy. Finally, we see By focusing on the discussion of domestic that in Russia's Pseudo-democratic rule, ma- issues, including the collapse and subsequent jor democratic structures are seen but not conditions, the economic problems, the Che- fully institutionalized. One of the most im- chen war, and the effectiveness of the Yeltsin portant criticisms of Putin's rules is about the government, we find that the Putin govern- oligarchy of his government, as well as the ment has succeeded to a large extent in ar- mafia gangs that grew rapidly during his ranging conditions and securing the country. time. The transformation of structures from On the other hand, international pressures a the socialist system to the capitalist system western interventions through the expansion during the Putin era has been very hasty, and of NATO or the European Union, the streng- in other words, modernization has been quick thening of color revolutions by the west has and inclusive. We observed the process of the caused a sense of humiliation on the part of formation of the phenomenon of Putinism in the Russian people from so-called democratic the internal problems and crisis, as well as countries. Putin has been able to receive Rus- foreign events and issues, and on the other sian national identity and, as a result, has be- hand, by studing the life of Putin and his per- come popular with the Russian people. The sonality, we can conclude that Putin, with its Russian people who were dissatisfied with unique characteristics, succeeded in lifting its Yeltsin's weak performance, as well as the full authority, and then by using this position, economic system of the market and the Rus- he could pursue its ambitions. sian westernization process, provide Putin The most important element in the ideolo- with all-embracing support. gy of Putinism is nationalism with anti- Rising oil prices in the global markets al- Westernism. lowed Putin to rebuild and economic reforms. Putinism gets meaning with public capi- He won successes in the Chechen war, coop- talism, which has successfully diminished eration with the west in countering terrorism inefficiency and corruption, but it has a par- after the 9/11 attacks and the Sochi Olympic liamentary body that its opposition parties do Games in 2007. But after stabilizing the situ- not actually oppose, and the press has free- ation and consolidating the country, he has dom and do not accept the criticization. No several presidential steps with total authority, suitable substitute for Putinism can now be and the reliance on oil and gas wealth, he has imagined. In the future, the people of Russia

International Journal of Political Science, Vol 9, No 1, Spring 2019 may go under another name than Putinism, Karami Jahangir (2005). Russia's foreign pol- but the point is that the main lines will re- icy developments. The identity of main, since the authority from the tsar era to the state and the west issue. Tehran, this day has been produced in various forms. Foreign Ministry publications Unless civil society is gradually formed in Karami Jahangir (2011). The Great Deal in Russian society and democracy is present in Russian-American Relations, at all fields. Medvedev and Obama period. World Studies Quarterly. Fall, No. 90 Internal substrates Kargarlytsky Boris (2009).the inheritors of the Collapse of the Soviet Yeltsin's inefficiency Soviet Union. Tehran. Ummah pub- Union lishing Cultural and social Economic problems Kiani David (2006). Decision Making Struc- problems ture in Russia's Foreign Policy. Cen-

tral Asia and Caucasus Quarterly, External factors The crisis of Ukraine vol.15, No. 54 Colored revolutions and the Crimea Koolaei Elahe (2001). The Union of Soviet Bosnia and Kosovo from evolution to collapse. Tehran, International pressures crisis Ministry of Foreign Affairs publication Koolaei Elahe (2009). Politics and Govern- ment in the Soviet Union Federation. References Tehran. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bashiriyeh Hossein (2003). Teaching Politi- publication cal Knowledge, Tehran. Negah-e O ' Neal, Patrick ( 2012). Basics of Adaptive Moaser publication Politics, Tehran, Qomes publication Bonavita, Petra (2010). Russia in the clutch of Scott, Jean, Paul ( 2012 ). History of Russia, Mafia, Tehran : Ummah publishing Tehran, Amir Kabir publishing Farin Pulsi, (2011).the end of Putin period state Liberalism, Pattern Dialogue chrono- and Putinism in Russia Faravar, Feb- graph, issue 8 ruary 19th. Toloui Mahmoud(2012). From Lenin to Pu- Gurkan, Natalya. Umkova, Natalya. Cassin- tin, Tehran. Tehran Publication kov, Andrei ( 2001). Who is Mr. Pu- Zakaria Fareed ( 2006). Freedom Future. tin? Translated by Mojgan Samadi, Tehran, Tarh-e no publication Tehran : Digar publication Zand Shakibi Bijan ( 2015). From Gorba- Hemmati Golsefidi Hojatollah (2011). Critique chev's Glorious Liberalism to Putin's and review of the book. State-building in Russia's Putin Age, Central Asia and Caucasus Quarterly, No. 73.