Question 1

The term patrimonial state refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the great overrepresentation of males in state leadership positions. 
B)  the tradition of authoritarianism that characterized Russian politics until the early 1980s. 
C)  the personalistic nature of politics during the Soviet era in which one leader was elevated to a top position. 
D)  the system of government in which the ruler treats the state as his personal property. 
E)  none of these. 
A)  the great overrepresentation of males in state leadership positions. 
B)  the tradition of authoritarianism that characterized Russian politics until the early 1980s. 
C)  the personalistic nature of politics during the Soviet era in which one leader was elevated to a top position. 
D)  the system of government in which the ruler treats the state as his personal property. 
E)  none of these. D

Question 2

Which of the following statements about Russia's role in the global economy is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Germany is the largest source of Russian imports. 
B)  Russia belongs to the World Trade Organization. 
C)  About three-fourths of Russian exports to Europe are mineral resources, including energy resources. 
D)  Russia overall relies heavily upon energy resources for export. 
E)  The level of foreign investment in Russia is lower than other East European countries. 
A)  Germany is the largest source of Russian imports. 
B)  Russia belongs to the World Trade Organization. 
C)  About three-fourths of Russian exports to Europe are mineral resources, including energy resources. 
D)  Russia overall relies heavily upon energy resources for export. 
E)  The level of foreign investment in Russia is lower than other East European countries. A

Question 3

Describe how the Russian government has sought to restrict or channel public activism.

Accepted Answer

The Russian government has sought to restrict or channel public activism through a variety of methods. One of the most common tactics is the use of restrictive laws and regulations that limit the ability of individuals and organizations to engage in public protests or demonstrations. For example, the government has implemented strict regulations on public gatherings, requiring organizers to obtain permits and imposing heavy fines or even imprisonment for violations.

Additionally, the government has targeted prominent activists and opposition figures through harassment, intimidation, and even imprisonment. This has created a climate of fear and uncertainty, discouraging many individuals from participating in public activism for fear of reprisal.

Furthermore, the government has sought to control the narrative and public discourse by heavily censoring media and the internet, limiting the spread of information and alternative viewpoints. This has made it difficult for activists to mobilize and organize, as their messages are often suppressed or distorted by state-controlled media.

Overall, the Russian government's approach to restricting public activism has been multi-faceted, utilizing legal, coercive, and informational tactics to limit the ability of individuals and organizations to engage in public dissent.

Question 4

Which statement about Russian membership in international organizations is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Following the collapse of communism, Russia initially expressed a desire to join the European Union. 
B)  Russia is a member of the World Trade Organization but not the International Monetary Fund. 
C)  Russia is a member of the International Monetary Fund but has been blocked from membership in the World Trade Organization. 
D)  Russia has expressed a desire to join the Council of Europe but has not yet done so. 
E)  Russia has established various partnerships with NATO. 
A)  Following the collapse of communism, Russia initially expressed a desire to join the European Union. 
B)  Russia is a member of the World Trade Organization but not the International Monetary Fund. 
C)  Russia is a member of the International Monetary Fund but has been blocked from membership in the World Trade Organization. 
D)  Russia has expressed a desire to join the Council of Europe but has not yet done so. 
E)  Russia has established various partnerships with NATO.

Question 5

Russia has sought to re-establish itself as a respected regional leader by

Accepted Answer

A)  actively interfering in the internal politics of its neighbors. 
B)  establishing regional organizations to strengthen the relations between Russia and other former Soviet republics. 
C)  increasing trade with its neighboring former Soviet republics. 
D)  adopting stances at the United Nations that correspond to the interests of its neighbors. 
E)  joining the European Union. 
A)  actively interfering in the internal politics of its neighbors. 
B)  establishing regional organizations to strengthen the relations between Russia and other former Soviet republics. 
C)  increasing trade with its neighboring former Soviet republics. 
D)  adopting stances at the United Nations that correspond to the interests of its neighbors. 
E)  joining the European Union.

Question 6

Soft authoritarianism refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  a tightening of political controls combined with a loosening of economic controls. 
B)  the re-emergence of the communist party as a political force in Russia. 
C)  Russia's increasingly militant actions in its near abroad. 
D)  a system of informal and formal mechanisms that assure the dominance of a ruling group despite the existence of some forms of political competition and opposition. 
E)  the use of repressive political controls designed to limit opposition. 
A)  a tightening of political controls combined with a loosening of economic controls. 
B)  the re-emergence of the communist party as a political force in Russia. 
C)  Russia's increasingly militant actions in its near abroad. 
D)  a system of informal and formal mechanisms that assure the dominance of a ruling group despite the existence of some forms of political competition and opposition. 
E)  the use of repressive political controls designed to limit opposition.

Question 7

President Yeltsin responded to what he considered to be an obstructive parliament by

Accepted Answer

A)  disbanding it and laying siege to its premises. 
B)  ignoring it and relying upon presidential decrees. 
C)  ignoring it and relying upon governors to pass legislation. 
D)  threatening to lay siege to it until it capitulated. 
E)  simply ignoring it as he went about his reforms. 
A)  disbanding it and laying siege to its premises. 
B)  ignoring it and relying upon presidential decrees. 
C)  ignoring it and relying upon governors to pass legislation. 
D)  threatening to lay siege to it until it capitulated. 
E)  simply ignoring it as he went about his reforms.

Question 8

Which of the following about Russian public and semipublic institutions is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Despite privatization, public or semipublic ownership of firms continues in some economic sectors including television, energy, and telecommunications. 
B)  While private clinics and hospitals have emerged, a state-run system of medical care is still in place. 
C)  A large portion of the country's housing is municipally owned. 
D)  Russia's universities remain largely public institutions funded chiefly through the state. 
E)  The executives of most public and semipublic institutions, especially those in the economic sector, are appointed through politically independent boards. 
A)  Despite privatization, public or semipublic ownership of firms continues in some economic sectors including television, energy, and telecommunications. 
B)  While private clinics and hospitals have emerged, a state-run system of medical care is still in place. 
C)  A large portion of the country's housing is municipally owned. 
D)  Russia's universities remain largely public institutions funded chiefly through the state. 
E)  The executives of most public and semipublic institutions, especially those in the economic sector, are appointed through politically independent boards.

Question 9

Which statement about the Russian policy making process is NOT accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Whereas societal groups and political parties had little input into the policy-making process during the Yeltsin era, this is no longer the case during the Putin-Medvedev era. 
B)  Whereas, during the Yeltsin era, oligarchs were able to exert considerable influence, this has not been the case during the Putin-Medvedev era. 
C)  Whereas, during the Yelstin era, conflict between the executive and the legislature made policy making contentious, the legislature has generally followed the executive's lead during the Putin-Medvedev era. 
D)  Whereas during the Yeltsin era, regional governors were able to exert considerable influence, this has not been the case during the Putin-Medvedev era. 
E)  Policy implementation has been a consistent problem. 
A)  Whereas societal groups and political parties had little input into the policy-making process during the Yeltsin era, this is no longer the case during the Putin-Medvedev era. 
B)  Whereas, during the Yeltsin era, oligarchs were able to exert considerable influence, this has not been the case during the Putin-Medvedev era. 
C)  Whereas, during the Yelstin era, conflict between the executive and the legislature made policy making contentious, the legislature has generally followed the executive's lead during the Putin-Medvedev era. 
D)  Whereas during the Yeltsin era, regional governors were able to exert considerable influence, this has not been the case during the Putin-Medvedev era. 
E)  Policy implementation has been a consistent problem.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about Russian political parties is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Virtually all major parties have not challenged either political or economic reform, although they do differ over the pace and costs of these. 
B)  Regional parties, especially in those regions with large Muslim populations, have emerged to become important players in Russian politics but only at the regional level. 
C)  Russian political parties do not fit neatly on a left-right spectrum because nationalistic sentiments crosscut economic ideologies. 
D)  Because deeply rooted party identifications have yet to develop, parties appeal to transient voter sentiments. 
E)  Although the country maintains a competitive multiparty system, since 2003, a single party has emerged as the dominant party. 
A)  Virtually all major parties have not challenged either political or economic reform, although they do differ over the pace and costs of these. 
B)  Regional parties, especially in those regions with large Muslim populations, have emerged to become important players in Russian politics but only at the regional level. 
C)  Russian political parties do not fit neatly on a left-right spectrum because nationalistic sentiments crosscut economic ideologies. 
D)  Because deeply rooted party identifications have yet to develop, parties appeal to transient voter sentiments. 
E)  Although the country maintains a competitive multiparty system, since 2003, a single party has emerged as the dominant party.

Question 11

The Eurasian Union refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  a trade union between Russia and China. 
B)  a customs union between Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan that Russia envisions as growing into a political and economic organization, which will connect it to non-European Union countries. 
C)  a consultative body that unites former Soviet Republics. 
D)  a security pact between Russia and several Central Asian states. 
E)  a proposed economic and political union between Russia, the Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. 
A)  a trade union between Russia and China. 
B)  a customs union between Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan that Russia envisions as growing into a political and economic organization, which will connect it to non-European Union countries. 
C)  a consultative body that unites former Soviet Republics. 
D)  a security pact between Russia and several Central Asian states. 
E)  a proposed economic and political union between Russia, the Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Question 12

A Just Russia is best described as a

Accepted Answer

A)  centrist party that was formed from above to help undermine opposition parties that might threaten United Russia. 
B)  nationalist party that was formed to counter the Liberal Democratic Party. 
C)  liberal/reform party that supports assertive Western-style market reform and political norms. 
D)  traditional left party that is highly critical of market reform. 
E)  unique party whose platform combines support for Western-style political norms and a criticism of the costs of economic reform. 
A)  centrist party that was formed from above to help undermine opposition parties that might threaten United Russia. 
B)  nationalist party that was formed to counter the Liberal Democratic Party. 
C)  liberal/reform party that supports assertive Western-style market reform and political norms. 
D)  traditional left party that is highly critical of market reform. 
E)  unique party whose platform combines support for Western-style political norms and a criticism of the costs of economic reform.

Question 13

Which of the following statements best describes Soviet politics during the post-Stalin era until the rise of Gorbachev in 1985?

Accepted Answer

A)  There was an increased effort to allow foreign ideas to influence cultural affairs. 
B)  Internal party structures were decentralized allowing the rise of regional leaders who were less beholden to the central party. 
C)  The period saw the development of a more predictable and relatively stable authoritarian system. 
D)  Economic growth continued to grow at a steady pace although living standards improved only minimally as the state and party tended to draw resources away from the people. 
E)  Political terror remained constant. 
A)  There was an increased effort to allow foreign ideas to influence cultural affairs. 
B)  Internal party structures were decentralized allowing the rise of regional leaders who were less beholden to the central party. 
C)  The period saw the development of a more predictable and relatively stable authoritarian system. 
D)  Economic growth continued to grow at a steady pace although living standards improved only minimally as the state and party tended to draw resources away from the people. 
E)  Political terror remained constant.

Question 14

Which statement about the Russian bureaucracy is CORRECT?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bureaucratic reshuffling has been used both to reflect leadership priorities and to allow leaders to place their allies in key positions. 
B)  National ministers are appointed by the prime minister. 
C)  National ministers are appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister and must be approved by the parliament. 
D)  National ministers are appointed by the prime minister but must be approved by both the president and the parliament. 
E)  All national ministers need to be approved by the parliament. 
A)  Bureaucratic reshuffling has been used both to reflect leadership priorities and to allow leaders to place their allies in key positions. 
B)  National ministers are appointed by the prime minister. 
C)  National ministers are appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister and must be approved by the parliament. 
D)  National ministers are appointed by the prime minister but must be approved by both the president and the parliament. 
E)  All national ministers need to be approved by the parliament.

Question 15

The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) is best described as

Accepted Answer

A)  a Russian nationalist party. 
B)  a party with a liberal and democratic platform. 
C)  a party that promotes Western-style social democracy. 
D)  the dominant party in Russia. 
E)  the party most committed to civil liberties and individual rights. 
A)  a Russian nationalist party. 
B)  a party with a liberal and democratic platform. 
C)  a party that promotes Western-style social democracy. 
D)  the dominant party in Russia. 
E)  the party most committed to civil liberties and individual rights.

Question 16

Which of the following about the Russian economy is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Wage differentials have decreased substantially since the economic upturn that began in 1999. 
B)  The average level of disposable income has decreased steadily since market reforms were introduced in the early 1990s. 
C)  Many Russians of all age groups question some of the values underlying market reform. 
D)  Urban residents have been less likely to benefit from market reform than rural residents. 
E)  Russians have less access to a greater variety of consumer goods. 
A)  Wage differentials have decreased substantially since the economic upturn that began in 1999. 
B)  The average level of disposable income has decreased steadily since market reforms were introduced in the early 1990s. 
C)  Many Russians of all age groups question some of the values underlying market reform. 
D)  Urban residents have been less likely to benefit from market reform than rural residents. 
E)  Russians have less access to a greater variety of consumer goods.

Question 17

The current Russian constitution was adopted by

Accepted Answer

A)  a referendum. 
B)  presidential decree. 
C)  a constitutional convention. 
D)  a vote in the country's legislature. 
E)  regional leaders following the collapse of the Soviet Union. 
A)  a referendum. 
B)  presidential decree. 
C)  a constitutional convention. 
D)  a vote in the country's legislature. 
E)  regional leaders following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Question 18

Discuss the factors that have inhibited the development of strong competing political parties in post-communist Russia. Do you consider the development of strong parties to be important or not? How does the rise of United Russia to its current position as the dominant party affect your argument?

Accepted Answer

The development of strong competing poli

Question 19

The term siloviki refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the Soviet era personnel system that assured party control of the bureaucracy. 
B)  the merit-based civil service system introduced under Putin. 
C)  career bureaucrats in Russia. 
D)  government officials drawn from the security and intelligence services who were recruited to important political posts under Putin. 
E)  the bureaucracy of regional governments. 
A)  the Soviet era personnel system that assured party control of the bureaucracy. 
B)  the merit-based civil service system introduced under Putin. 
C)  career bureaucrats in Russia. 
D)  government officials drawn from the security and intelligence services who were recruited to important political posts under Putin. 
E)  the bureaucracy of regional governments.

Question 20

Which of the following describes Russia's geographic setting?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the second largest country in the world. 
B)  It is the largest European country in population. 
C)  It is largely an urban country with a high population density. 
D)  It spans fifteen time zones. 
E)  It is resource poor. 
A)  It is the second largest country in the world. 
B)  It is the largest European country in population. 
C)  It is largely an urban country with a high population density. 
D)  It spans fifteen time zones. 
E)  It is resource poor.

The term patrimonial state refers to

Which of the following statements about Russia's role in the global economy is NOT true?

Describe how the Russian government has sought to restrict or channel public activism.

Which statement about Russian membership in international organizations is TRUE?

Russia has sought to re-establish itself as a respected regional leader by

Soft authoritarianism refers to

President Yeltsin responded to what he considered to be an obstructive parliament by

Which of the following about Russian public and semipublic institutions is NOT true?

Which statement about the Russian policy making process is NOT accurate?

Which of the following statements about Russian political parties is NOT true?

The Eurasian Union refers to

A Just Russia is best described as a

Which of the following statements best describes Soviet politics during the post-Stalin era until the rise of Gorbachev in 1985?

Which statement about the Russian bureaucracy is CORRECT?

The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) is best described as

Which of the following about the Russian economy is TRUE?

The current Russian constitution was adopted by

Discuss the factors that have inhibited the development of strong competing political parties in post-communist Russia. Do you consider the development of strong parties to be important or not? How does the rise of United Russia to its current position as the dominant party affect your argument?

The term siloviki refers to

Which of the following describes Russia's geographic setting?

Introducing Comparative Politics

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Exam 13: The Russian Federation

The term patrimonial state refers to

Which of the following statements about Russia's role in the global economy is NOT true?

Describe how the Russian government has sought to restrict or channel public activism.

Which statement about Russian membership in international organizations is TRUE?

Russia has sought to re-establish itself as a respected regional leader by

Soft authoritarianism refers to

President Yeltsin responded to what he considered to be an obstructive parliament by

Which of the following about Russian public and semipublic institutions is NOT true?

Which statement about the Russian policy making process is NOT accurate?

Which of the following statements about Russian political parties is NOT true?

The Eurasian Union refers to

A Just Russia is best described as a

Which of the following statements best describes Soviet politics during the post-Stalin era until the rise of Gorbachev in 1985?

Which statement about the Russian bureaucracy is CORRECT?

The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) is best described as

Which of the following about the Russian economy is TRUE?

The current Russian constitution was adopted by

Discuss the factors that have inhibited the development of strong competing political parties in post-communist Russia. Do you consider the development of strong parties to be important or not? How does the rise of United Russia to its current position as the dominant party affect your argument?

The term siloviki refers to

Which of the following describes Russia's geographic setting?

Introducing Comparative Politics

Britian

France

Germany

European Union

Japan

India

The United States

Brazil

Mexico

South Africa

Nigeria

Iran

China

Filters