Question 1

Civil society in Russia

Accepted Answer

A)  remains strong as a legacy of Soviet rule. 
B)  has been repressed under Putin. 
C)  was weak under Soviet rule but has grown dramatically since then. 
D)  has built and supports a vibrant and diverse media. 
A)  remains strong as a legacy of Soviet rule. 
B)  has been repressed under Putin. 
C)  was weak under Soviet rule but has grown dramatically since then. 
D)  has built and supports a vibrant and diverse media. B

Question 2

What role has civil society played in Russia since the 1917 Revolution? What tools has the state used to control and limit civil society in the last two decades?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will note that Russian civil society was nearly nonexistent pre-1917 due to the structure of society (feudal,agrarian,aristocratic).Civil society was then co-opted by the state during Soviet times,but allowed to organize independent of the state during Gorbachev's reforms in the 1980s.The 1990s saw a flowering of civil society groups and organizations,only to have the state steadily view civil society as a threat beginning in the early 2000s.The state has since used the tax code,restrictions on NGOs,preferential treatment of the Russian Orthodox Church,and especially control of all media companies to limit civil society.

Question 3

What is the current state of the "Great Game"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Russia is the only constant actor seeking influence in Central Asia. 
B)  Russia competes with the United Kingdom over the Middle East. 
C)  Russia competes with Britain and the United States over the Middle East and Central Asia. 
D)  The United States is the only constant actor,with Russia having given up influence in Afghanistan. 
A)  Russia is the only constant actor seeking influence in Central Asia. 
B)  Russia competes with the United Kingdom over the Middle East. 
C)  Russia competes with Britain and the United States over the Middle East and Central Asia. 
D)  The United States is the only constant actor,with Russia having given up influence in Afghanistan. A

Question 4

The differences in powers between different regions in Russia are referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  asymmetric federalism. 
B)  asymmetric localism. 
C)  devolved federalism. 
D)  unitary regionalism. 
A)  asymmetric federalism. 
B)  asymmetric localism. 
C)  devolved federalism. 
D)  unitary regionalism.

Question 5

After Stalin's death in 1953,the Soviet leadership made which of the following changes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Use of centralized power was reduced. 
B)  Power was taken away from the Politburo. 
C)  The nomenklatura lost their authority over the daily life of citizens. 
D)  Economic control was taken away from the central planning bureaucracy. 
A)  Use of centralized power was reduced. 
B)  Power was taken away from the Politburo. 
C)  The nomenklatura lost their authority over the daily life of citizens. 
D)  Economic control was taken away from the central planning bureaucracy.

Question 6

Which of the following statements best describes Russia's geography?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has few neighboring countries and is surrounded mostly by water. 
B)  It has a population larger than that of the European Union or the United States. 
C)  It lacks natural resources. 
D)  It is much larger,though less populated,than the United States. 
A)  It has few neighboring countries and is surrounded mostly by water. 
B)  It has a population larger than that of the European Union or the United States. 
C)  It lacks natural resources. 
D)  It is much larger,though less populated,than the United States.

Question 7

Considering the significant power of the Russian presidency,does the national legislature serve any important independent functions in modern Russia? How has the national legislature's role evolved since 1991?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will note that the legisla

Question 8

The Commonwealth of Independent States is

Accepted Answer

A)  a body used by Russia to retain influence over former Soviet republics. 
B)  the post-Soviet military alliance of Russia,Cuba,North Korea,and Vietnam. 
C)  the coordinating body that manages relations between the European Union and Russia. 
D)  the name for the European Union before it took in Russia as a full member. 
A)  a body used by Russia to retain influence over former Soviet republics. 
B)  the post-Soviet military alliance of Russia,Cuba,North Korea,and Vietnam. 
C)  the coordinating body that manages relations between the European Union and Russia. 
D)  the name for the European Union before it took in Russia as a full member.

Question 9

Which of the following was the result of Gorbachev's attempt at reform?

Accepted Answer

A)  increased economic growth 
B)  membership in the European Union 
C)  democratic elections by which the Communists were returned to power 
D)  the breakup of the Soviet Union 
A)  increased economic growth 
B)  membership in the European Union 
C)  democratic elections by which the Communists were returned to power 
D)  the breakup of the Soviet Union

Question 10

Under Putin,economic assets have been increasingly concentrated in the hands of the

Accepted Answer

A)  European Union. 
B)  oligarchs. 
C)  Communist Party. 
D)  siloviki. 
A)  European Union. 
B)  oligarchs. 
C)  Communist Party. 
D)  siloviki.

Question 11

One recent event that raised concerns over Russia's foreign policy was its intervention in

Accepted Answer

A)  Azerbaijan. 
B)  Estonia. 
C)  Ukraine. 
D)  Bosnia. 
A)  Azerbaijan. 
B)  Estonia. 
C)  Ukraine. 
D)  Bosnia.

Question 12

In which of the following ways does the electoral structure under Putin differ from that under President Yeltsin?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has two rounds of voting for the Duma instead of a single round. 
B)  It is pure proportional representation instead of mixed PR and SMD. 
C)  Voters must cast ballots for individual candidates instead of for parties. 
D)  Voters must demonstrate registration with a specific pre-approved political party in order to cast a ballot. 
A)  It has two rounds of voting for the Duma instead of a single round. 
B)  It is pure proportional representation instead of mixed PR and SMD. 
C)  Voters must cast ballots for individual candidates instead of for parties. 
D)  Voters must demonstrate registration with a specific pre-approved political party in order to cast a ballot.

Question 13

Gorbachev's reforms in the 1980s relied on the policies of glasnost and perestroika,or

Accepted Answer

A)  political openness and economic restructuring. 
B)  demilitarization and federalism. 
C)  multiparty elections and constitutional reform. 
D)  economic reform and increased competition with the West. 
A)  political openness and economic restructuring. 
B)  demilitarization and federalism. 
C)  multiparty elections and constitutional reform. 
D)  economic reform and increased competition with the West.

Question 14

A key institution in Russia's religious and political culture is

Accepted Answer

A)  Roman Catholicism. 
B)  Orthodox Christianity. 
C)  animism. 
D)  Protestantism. 
A)  Roman Catholicism. 
B)  Orthodox Christianity. 
C)  animism. 
D)  Protestantism.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the Russian province of Chechnya is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Putin's harsh invasion of Chechnya resulted in his initial loss of the presidency and assuming of the role of prime minister. 
B)  Despite its status as an independent republic under the Soviet Union,Chechnya was denied independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union. 
C)  Chechnya was able to operate as an independent country in actions,if not in formal status,during much of the 1990s. 
D)  Chechnya's ideological identification with the West has in large part led to the numerous invasions by the Russian military. 
A)  Putin's harsh invasion of Chechnya resulted in his initial loss of the presidency and assuming of the role of prime minister. 
B)  Despite its status as an independent republic under the Soviet Union,Chechnya was denied independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union. 
C)  Chechnya was able to operate as an independent country in actions,if not in formal status,during much of the 1990s. 
D)  Chechnya's ideological identification with the West has in large part led to the numerous invasions by the Russian military.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about the Russian Constitutional Court is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its members are subject to 20-year term limits. 
B)  It does not serve as a court of last appeal for criminal cases. 
C)  Its members are nominated by the Duma. 
D)  It has the power of concrete review but lacks the power of abstract review. 
A)  Its members are subject to 20-year term limits. 
B)  It does not serve as a court of last appeal for criminal cases. 
C)  Its members are nominated by the Duma. 
D)  It has the power of concrete review but lacks the power of abstract review.

Question 17

In which of the following ways does Russia's Federation Council differ from the Duma?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has more responsibility for protecting the letter of the constitution. 
B)  It is capable of overriding a presidential veto,unlike the Duma. 
C)  It has control over appointment and approval of the prime minister,which the Duma lacks. 
D)  It lacks the power of approval over declarations of war and international treaties,which the Duma possesses. 
A)  It has more responsibility for protecting the letter of the constitution. 
B)  It is capable of overriding a presidential veto,unlike the Duma. 
C)  It has control over appointment and approval of the prime minister,which the Duma lacks. 
D)  It lacks the power of approval over declarations of war and international treaties,which the Duma possesses.

Question 18

What were the central factors that allowed for the 1917 revolution?

Accepted Answer

A good answer should note the disjunctur

Question 19

Which of the following statements about Russia's judiciary and rule of law is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The public trusts law enforcement agencies but has little faith in government institutions like the presidency or the Duma. 
B)  The Russian Supreme Court occupies the top of the Russian legal structure. 
C)  The courts in Russia often play an activist role. 
D)  Russia is mired in the problem of "legal nihilism," wherein legal codes are not respected. 
A)  The public trusts law enforcement agencies but has little faith in government institutions like the presidency or the Duma. 
B)  The Russian Supreme Court occupies the top of the Russian legal structure. 
C)  The courts in Russia often play an activist role. 
D)  Russia is mired in the problem of "legal nihilism," wherein legal codes are not respected.

Question 20

Lenin consolidated the 1917 revolution in part through the nomenklatura,which were

Accepted Answer

A)  the secret police. 
B)  the mass armies used to defeat the opponents of the revolution. 
C)  the local Soviets that provided grassroots support to the revolution. 
D)  politically influential Communists who were given important jobs in the bureaucracy. 
A)  the secret police. 
B)  the mass armies used to defeat the opponents of the revolution. 
C)  the local Soviets that provided grassroots support to the revolution. 
D)  politically influential Communists who were given important jobs in the bureaucracy.

Civil society in Russia

What role has civil society played in Russia since the 1917 Revolution? What tools has the state used to control and limit civil society in the last two decades?

What is the current state of the "Great Game"?

The differences in powers between different regions in Russia are referred to as

After Stalin's death in 1953,the Soviet leadership made which of the following changes?

Which of the following statements best describes Russia's geography?

Considering the significant power of the Russian presidency,does the national legislature serve any important independent functions in modern Russia? How has the national legislature's role evolved since 1991?

The Commonwealth of Independent States is

Which of the following was the result of Gorbachev's attempt at reform?

Under Putin,economic assets have been increasingly concentrated in the hands of the

One recent event that raised concerns over Russia's foreign policy was its intervention in

In which of the following ways does the electoral structure under Putin differ from that under President Yeltsin?

Gorbachev's reforms in the 1980s relied on the policies of glasnost and perestroika,or

A key institution in Russia's religious and political culture is

Which of the following statements about the Russian province of Chechnya is accurate?

Which of the following statements about the Russian Constitutional Court is accurate?

In which of the following ways does Russia's Federation Council differ from the Duma?

What were the central factors that allowed for the 1917 revolution?

Which of the following statements about Russia's judiciary and rule of law is accurate?

Lenin consolidated the 1917 revolution in part through the nomenklatura,which were

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Exam 7: Russia

Civil society in Russia

What role has civil society played in Russia since the 1917 Revolution? What tools has the state used to control and limit civil society in the last two decades?

What is the current state of the "Great Game"?

The differences in powers between different regions in Russia are referred to as

After Stalin's death in 1953,the Soviet leadership made which of the following changes?

Which of the following statements best describes Russia's geography?

Considering the significant power of the Russian presidency,does the national legislature serve any important independent functions in modern Russia? How has the national legislature's role evolved since 1991?

The Commonwealth of Independent States is

Which of the following was the result of Gorbachev's attempt at reform?

Under Putin,economic assets have been increasingly concentrated in the hands of the

One recent event that raised concerns over Russia's foreign policy was its intervention in

In which of the following ways does the electoral structure under Putin differ from that under President Yeltsin?

Gorbachev's reforms in the 1980s relied on the policies of glasnost and perestroika,or

A key institution in Russia's religious and political culture is

Which of the following statements about the Russian province of Chechnya is accurate?

Which of the following statements about the Russian Constitutional Court is accurate?

In which of the following ways does Russia's Federation Council differ from the Duma?

What were the central factors that allowed for the 1917 revolution?

Which of the following statements about Russia's judiciary and rule of law is accurate?

Lenin consolidated the 1917 revolution in part through the nomenklatura,which were

Introduction

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United States

France

Germany

Japan

China

India

Iran

Mexico

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