Problems of Legitimacy and Succession in Russia: Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics

The Soviet Union was founded in 1922 on the principles of Marxism-Leninism. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) was the only legal political party in the country, and its ideology was the guiding force behind all aspects of Soviet society. The CPSU claimed to represent the interests of the working class, and it promised to build a communist society in which there would be no class distinctions, no exploitation, and no oppression.

The Putin Predicament: Problems of Legitimacy and Succession in Russia (Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society Book 237)

by Honor Raconteur

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1153 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	241 pages

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For much of its history, the Soviet Union was able to maintain a high degree of legitimacy among its citizens. This was due in part to the country's rapid economic growth, its military power, and its social welfare programs. However, the Soviet Union's legitimacy began to erode in the late 1970s and 1980s. The country's economy stagnated, its military overextended itself in Afghanistan, and its social welfare programs became increasingly inadequate. As a result, the Soviet people began to lose faith in the CPSU and its ideology.

The crisis of legitimacy in the Soviet Union reached its peak in the late 1980s. In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became General Secretary of the CPSU. Gorbachev attempted to reform the Soviet system, but his reforms were ultimately unsuccessful. In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, and Russia emerged as an independent state.

The collapse of the Soviet Union created a new set of problems of legitimacy and succession in Russia. The new Russian government had to find a new basis for legitimacy, and it had to establish a new political system. The Russian government has faced a number of challenges in its efforts to establish a stable and legitimate political system. These challenges include economic instability, political corruption, and social unrest.

The Russian economy has been in a state of flux since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The country has experienced high inflation, low growth, and a decline in living standards. The Russian government has implemented a number of economic reforms in an effort to stabilize the economy, but these reforms have been met with mixed success.

Political corruption is another major problem in Russia. The Russian government is widely perceived as being corrupt, and this perception has undermined the legitimacy of the government. The Russian government has taken some steps to combat corruption, but these efforts have been largely ineffective.

Social unrest is another major problem in Russia. The Russian people have been protesting against the government in increasing numbers in recent years. These protests have been sparked by a variety of factors, including economic inequality, political corruption, and social injustice. The Russian government has responded to these protests with a mix of repression and concessions.

The problems of legitimacy and succession in Russia are a major challenge for the country's future. The Russian government must find a way to establish a stable and legitimate political system if it wants to avoid further instability and unrest.

The Soviet Era

The Soviet Union was a one-party state, and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) was the only legal political party in the country. The CPSU claimed to represent the interests of the working class, and it promised to build a communist society in which there would be no class distinctions, no exploitation, and no oppression.

The CPSU's legitimacy was based on a combination of factors, including its ideology, its economic successes, and its military power. The CPSU's ideology provided a clear and coherent vision for the future of the Soviet Union, and it inspired many people to believe in the communist cause. The CPSU's economic successes also contributed to its legitimacy. The Soviet Union experienced rapid economic growth under the CPSU's leadership, and this growth led to a significant improvement in the living standards of the Soviet people. Finally, the CPSU's military power also contributed to its legitimacy. The Soviet Union was one of the two superpowers in the world, and its military strength was a source of pride for many Soviet citizens.

However, the CPSU's legitimacy began to erode in the late 1970s and 1980s. The Soviet economy began to stagnate, and the country's military overextended itself in Afghanistan. As a result, the Soviet people began to lose faith in the CPSU and its ideology.

The crisis of legitimacy in the Soviet Union reached its peak in the late 1980s. In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became General Secretary of the CPSU. Gorbachev attempted to reform the Soviet system, but his reforms were ultimately unsuccessful. In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, and Russia emerged as an independent state.

The Post-Soviet Era

The collapse of the Soviet Union created a new set of problems of legitimacy and succession in Russia. The new Russian government had to find a new basis for legitimacy, and it had to establish a new political system.

The Russian government has faced a number of challenges in its efforts to establish a stable and legitimate political system. These challenges include economic instability, political corruption, and social unrest.

The Russian economy has been in a state of flux since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The country has experienced high inflation, low growth, and a decline in living standards. The Russian government has implemented a number of economic reforms in an effort to stabilize the economy, but these reforms have been met with mixed success.

Political corruption is another major problem in Russia. The Russian government is widely perceived as being corrupt, and this perception has undermined the legitimacy of the government. The Russian government has taken some steps to combat corruption, but these efforts have been largely ineffective.

Social unrest is another major problem in Russia. The Russian people have been protesting against the government in increasing numbers in recent years. These protests have been sparked by a variety of factors, including economic inequality, political corruption, and social injustice. The Russian government has responded to these protests with a mix of repression and concessions.

The problems of legitimacy and succession in Russia are a major challenge for the country's future. The Russian government must find a way to establish a stable and legitimate political system if it wants to avoid further instability and unrest.

The Putin Predicament: Problems of Legitimacy and Succession in Russia (Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society Book 237)

by Honor Raconteur

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1153 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	241 pages

FREE