Instructor Mikhail Myagkov

Office PLC 913, phone x64868, e-mail myagkov@darkwing.uoregon.edu

The course surveys contemporary Russian political and economic reforms which took place in 1985-1998.

The course focuses on a variety of political and economic processes related to transitions from a socialist to a capitalist system, by taking Russia as an example. Examples of issues addressed are: what happens when the welfare economy fails? What type of political reforms is necessary to sustain the transition? What kind of political institutions emerge as a vehicle for the reforms and how do they develop in the process? Do elections matter? The main purpose of the class is to understand the nature of contemporary Russian politics and the process of its formation since Perestroika began.

Students are expected to attend classes, read the required materials and follow news reports which concern Russia's current state of affairs. There will be a number of in-class quizzes (multiple choice type) to ensure this. There will be no final nor midterm exam in this class. Students have a choice between preparing a discussion session or writing a paper (about 10 pages long) due by the end of the 10th week. Grades will be based on the quizzes (30%), discussion session/paper (70%). Additional credits will be given for active participation in in-class discussions (up to 30%). No curve will be used for grading.

News about Russia: news:clari.world.europe.russia and www.russiatoday.com

This class's web site: darkwing.uoregon.edu/~myagkov/ps399.html

Week 1. Introduction. Soviet Union before Gorbachev. Politics and economy of the Brezhnev's welfare state. Soviet social contract.

Discussion topic: Was the Soviet system in a state of political and economic equilibrium or not? Were the reforms feasible?

Readings: Cook 19-80.

Week 2. Beginning of reforms. Comparative aspects of Russian and East European transitional processes. Failure of the Soviet planning economy. Emerging of new democratic institutions.

Readings: McFaul 1-32, Cook 82-116

Discussion topic: Where should the reforms have started first: in the economy or in politics?

Week 3. First struggle for democracy - from the Union Congress to the Russian congress of Peoples Deputies. Boris Yeltsin's phenomena.

Readings: McFaul 32-43, Murrell 42-64

Discussion topic: What was the key democratic role of the two new Congresses? Which one was the most important for the reforms to continue?

Week 4. 1991 Presidential Elections in Russia and collapse of the Soviet Union.

Readings: Murrel 65-92.

Discussion Topic: What was the key cause of the Soviet Union's collapse. Could that be prevented? Should that be prevented?

Week 5. Russia between the two coups: Economic reforms and Constitutional power struggle. April 1993 referendum. Where the economy meets politics.

Readings: Murrel 96-156, Myagkov(*)

Discussion topic: Economic reforms vs. political reforms - what comes first, and what is the relationship between the two?

Week 6. December 1993 Duma election and the referendum on the new constitution. State Building in Post- Communist Russia. Election "Irregularities"

Readings: McFaul 44-62, Murrel 157-198, Myagkov and Sobyanin (*)

Discussion Topic: Did Yeltsin "sell" elections to the opposition, and what was the price?

What was the impact of the election irregularities on the Duma's composition and policies?

Week 7. Formation of political parties in Russia and its implications on the political reform. Impact of different electoral systems on the policy outcomes under Russian electoral preferences.

Readings: McFaul 63-74, Myagkov and Ordeshook(*)

Discussion Topic: Which electoral system is "optimal" for Russia's political framework. Why? What is the meaning of the word "optimal" here?

Week 8. Russian in 1993-1995: economic reforms continued, emergence of the Russia's Stock Market, the President the Duma and the new political balance.

Readings Murrel 202-230, Kiewiet and Myagkov(*)

Discussion Topic: What was the major role of the President and of the State Duma in promoting reforms. Which branch was more successful? Why? Was such a situation designed in the Constitution?

Week 9. Parliamentary and Presidential elections 1995 - 1996. Geography and demography of Russia's elections.

Readings: Murrel 230-242.

Discussion Topic: Explain the paradox: the 1995 parliamentary elections resulted in opposition's victory while Boris Yeltsin easily won the 1996 Presidential election. Can those two outcomes be reconciled?

Week 10. Latest economic and political crisis in Russia. The issue of corruption and its influence on success of reforms.

Discussion Topic: What is next?