Russian political culture is largely based upon the idea that size matters and that the collective should come before the individual. For the purpose of this research paper I will first discuss what role territory plays in Russian political culture. I will then discuss what role collectivism plays in Russian political culture. I will then discuss how these two subjects have affected the current identity construct of the Russian nation. I will conclude with how both collectivism and territory have contributed in shaping both Russian political culture and also the current identity construct of the Russian people. Russian political culture is a culture that has an emphasis on power and security. However, both of these ideas have their …show more content…
While size matters to the Russian people and the amount of land the country has the more power they believe they have, the characteristics of the land they inhabit has also been a factor in shaping Russian political culture. Much of the Russian land is cold and inhospitable. This has resulted in, as Smith describes, a people who view the world as cold and inhospitable. Smith explains that for centuries Russians have had to cope with epidemics, toil, famine, and repression. However, these are largely accepted as Gods will because of the teachings of the Russian Orthodox church. Through the inhospitable land this has resulted in a church that preaches asceticism and also a nihilistic view on the world. This has resulted in a people that are taught to endure not to enjoy and also to not question authority. Furthermore, the church preached that Russia was the third Rome and this further instilled the belief that Russia should continue to expand. The Russian church has instilled the belief in the Russian people through the land that the world is inhospitable and cold, through this the Russian people now seek comfort through both security and absolute …show more content…
However, according to Nalbandov the consensus among Russians is that their identity is based upon the construct of “Great Russia.” This is the belief that the greatness of the Russian people must rule over those of lower culture. While there may be no agreement as to when Russian identity first began all can agree that the Russian greatness should spread throughout the centuries. This current identity construct of a “Great Russia” is heavily influenced by Russian territory and its expansionist tendencies. According to Putin Russia has no borders. This idea that Russian greatness must span the entire globe is paramount to Russia’s identity construct. Russia believes that because they have so much territory this should equate to power and influence. Combined with the identity of “Great Russia” many of the Russian people feel marginalized and feel that because they have vast amounts of territory they should be a superpower. Territory has always been a key factor for Russian identity. Nalbandov describes territory as the only form that the Russian construct has taken over the ages. Russia’s need for territory has recently shaped their identity even further. Russia’s belief that they are greatness incarnate led to their annexation of Crimea, through land they can gain strength and power. Throughout their history they have gained power through war and conquest of other nations ultimately taking land and expanding their
Russia, as a country, has had a long and proud history. However, for a small time starting in 1917, things started to take a turn for the worse. There was widespread famine, disease, and killing by the instituted government. There was also no Russia. Instead, there was the glorious United Soviet Socialist Republics, or the USSR. This new country did not come around peacefully, but instead under the 1917 Russian Revolution and the revolting communist Bolsheviks. The Russian people were not in a better condition after the Russian revolution due to Stalin’s leadership of his country; the reason being the GULAGs that Stalin was sending his people to, the communes that the peasants were sent to, and the disastrous effects of his five year plans.
The foreign policies of Russia also compliments in many ways its domestic policies, both in the apparent want for dominance and security in the focal point on sovereignty. These aims lead to an importance on bringing back Russia’s international status and removing positions of power that Western states have had in Russia
But, the piece of land located on the northwestern part of Russia (in Figure 1) did much more than that. Not only did it make Russia bigger, but that section of land opened up much opportunity for Russia’s
19). That begin said, Russian politics have always governed around protecting themselves from threats inside and outside their boundaries both economical and militarily. In addition, Lynch elaborates that the capability of a state is so important in developing; in order to form a democracy since having been a built on post communist and Imperial auspices (Lynch, p. 5). In other words, a democracy does not merely come out of nowhere in a civil society, unless there is a capable national service where a political authority may draft, pass and enforce legislation. Furthermore, it is the neopatrimonial model that best describes the functioning of the Russian state that took hold in post communist Russia ruled by Yeltsin and Putin (Lynch, pp. 128-30). To clarify, it was significant that Russia established itself in a liberal economy, which was mostly supported by Western states, however the emergence and eventual consolidation under Putin established a neopatrmonial Political system.
Russian Federation has a long and interesting history. Many different events the structure and development of the country. Nowadays, Russia plays one of the most important roles in our world. Russia is located at the intersection of different cultures and contains multinational population and ethno-cultural diversity. Russia is an interesting country to discuss its issues of ethnicity and religion, try to predict the future development and economics of the country. How different country’s issues such as class distinction, equity and equality, race, religion, nationalism and other political variables are solved or considered by the state at least. The main goal of this work is to show weaknesses and struggles which Russia faces on the road
The Hebrew people were chosen as the people of God. After being enslaved in Egypt for centuries, God leads them out of oppression to the Promised land. He works through two Judges, Moses, and Joshua.
Many things reflect Russia’s diverse culture but two main things are art and the church.
One country is comparable to the United States of America in terms of world power and prominence. Russia makes their name known beginning in World War 2 (WW2), later in the Korean War, Cold War, and today’s proxy war in the Syria. Russia’s culture, environment, politics, military, and economy do not just make Russia a regional powerhouse, but slowly becoming a region of influential power to surrounding countries with the end state of a global superpower. All the factors that make Russia the powerhouse that it is slowly becoming, highlights the impressive trend that supersedes the previous Soviet Union and past leaders.
Russia has many cultural characteristics that have shaped the country we know today. A nation 's culture can define its actions and make them more predictable as a state on the international level. Understanding a nation’s culture gives great insight into the motives and reasoning behind their aggression or acts of force. Factors such as geography, weather, political landscape, military, and key infrastructure provide a clear understanding of Russian culture and how it has shaped the nation over the past century.
The present day Russian Federation involves a democratic system, given the presence of elections, an independent judiciary, and the supremacy of law. Yet, in democracy, the crux of it involves an inevitable paradox: law limits state power, but the state must have the power to enforce the law. However, finding the balance of the ability to enforce laws, and therefore maintaining order, while not infringing on civil liberties, requires a mutual understanding, a social contract, between the rulers and the ruled. This requirement has not found its place in the Russian political arena, especially since “creating a rule-of-law-based sate out of dictatorship is not easy” (Bressler 2009). In addition, the Russian psyche views authority as a source of force and violence (Yakovlev 1996), an etymological result of a continuity beginning from imperial Russia. Although the Russian Federation, the Union Soviet Socialist Republics, the Russian Empire, and the Tsardom of Russia differ significantly, a strong state remains prevalent in the core of Russian history and politics. In short, the nature of political rule in Russia involves a never ending tug of war between the seemingly undying authoritative soulless entity known as the state and the equally undying Russian people’s hunger for liberty.
When we hear the term Russian culture many Americans tend to have negative thoughts like the cold war, their government ruling with an iron hand, and the Red Scare. These thoughts do not do the justice to the Russian people or to their long history as a people dating back to INSERT DATE. One of the major themes throughout Russian history and this course is the idea that the Russian people value intangible things more than the tangible. The Russian people have a long rich heritage, they are deep in there Christian faith, and they pride themselves on hospitality and value there community, families, and fellow Russian people. They have learned how to sacrifice from the constant invasions and being forced farther and
When discussing Russia’s demographics, it is important to note that it is the largest country in the world, ranging across 17.1 million square kilometers. Russia thus has many different ethnic groups, languages, and religions. Russia’s reported population from 2017 is 143.9 million which includes over 170 ethnic groups designating as their nationalities. Russia’s major ethnic groups are Russian and Tatar with their languages being the top two as well. As for religion, Russians are mostly Russian Orthodox or Muslim, and the 2% are other Christians. To top it all off, “Russia has one of the best mass-education systems in the world, producing a literacy rate of 98%” (higher than most Western European countries) (O’Connor), consisting of primary school, secondary school, and higher education.
Harper Lee sets To Kill a Mockingbird in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930’s. Our protagonists are Atticus Finch and his children Jem and Scout. At this time black people were subjected to Jim Crow racism, which allowed for institutionalized discrimination. This coming of age story follows Scout’s development through ages 6 to 9. The story is based on the Scottsboro Boys trial of 1931 in which 9 boys were falsely accused of raping two white women. Lee’s story too centers on a racially charged unjust rape accusation. In To Kill a Mockingbird Lee uses Scout’s first person point of view to show us through the eyes of a young girl that, in our complex society full of differing perspectives and discrimination, true justice, in which right prevails in all ways, is not attainable. Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird we see Scout wrestle with this idea of justice and what is right and wrong. Her struggle is apparent when her teacher tells her she’s not allowed to read, when her aunt tries to make her be more ladylike, and when people tell her to not spend time with black people even though her father’s defending one.
Russia is a country in Northern Eurasia, bordered by the Arctic Ocean, and numerous countries such as China, Mongolia, and Georgia. The total area of Russia is 17,098,242 square kilometers (CIA.gov), making it the largest country in the world. The terrain of the country is “broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions” (CIA.gov) with a climate that ranges from humid and warm places to extremely frigid regions varying on its location. Russia is a federation
Where did the death penalty originate? The idea of the death penalty was brought over from Great Britain, when the founding fathers declared independence from Europe. Our ancestors and many others held the idea of the death penalty in high regard, since it was a common part of life. In many cases the death penalty had originated from Europe during the biblical times, but in different ways such a stoning or beheading. However, the Europeans gave the death penalty for a number of crimes but the first execution in America happened in the year 1608 when a man named George Kendall was executed for treason in Jamestown.