29.06.2007
The following Library resource is meant to quickly but thoroughly introduce the reader to politics in Russia. Everything from news, to public opinion, to youth politics is included here. Your contributions and suggestions are welcome! Contact the author. Table of Contents  News and Analysis - Journals and Academic Analysis
- Study Abroad Programs in Politics
- Public Opinion in Russia
- Political Parties and Movements
- Youth Politics
- Selected Articles, Interviews, and Papers
- Government Agencies and Structure
- Russian Legal Codes
- NGOs - American
- NGOs - Russian
- Other
- <<Back to The Library homepage
Color Code: Red links are to sites only in Russian.
Gray links have English available. What is "The Library?" 1. News and Analysis report an error back to top JRL is an incredibly extensive free daily newsletter of global news about Russia (but please consider making a donation to it if you subscribe). Russia Profile is rapidly becoming one of the most respected English-language news source for serious consideration of contemporary events in politics, society, and the economy. Interfax provides a free specialized news service on Russian political events. Washington Profile is a project of the World Security Institute, a non-profit organization committed independent reporting on global affairs. Washington Profile provides news and analysis in Russian and English from its office in Washington, D.C. Forum.msk.ru bills itself as an "open electronic newspaper" that represents a "unified opposition." Articles are contributed by members of opposition parties such as Yabloko and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. The Conflict Studies Research Centre provides straightforward chronologies of Russian politics. Untimely Thoughts is a site run by former reporter and academic Peter Lavelle. It features weekly panels of experts discussing topics of importance to Russia.  2. Journals and Academic Analysis report an error back to top
The Conflict Studies Research Centre provides original analysis of politics in Russia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. The Russian Regional Report and Russia in Global Affairs are available for free via email subscription from the International Relations and Security Network. Politcom.ru is the publication of the Center for Political Technologies, one of Russia's largest analytical think tanks. Russian Outlook is a quarterly analytical bulletin on politics and economics. Journal of Democracy is the publication of the National Endowment for Democracy, a federally funded American NGO to study and promote democracy. Foreign Affairs is published by the influential American Council on Foreign Affairs. 3. Study Abroad Programs in Politics report an error back to top The School of Russian and Asian Studies offers several study abroad programs in politics inside Russia designed to meet almost any study or grant requirement. Credit transfer is available. 4. Public Opinion in Russia report an error back to top
 The All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) was originally part of the Ministry of Labour and the Council of the Trade Unions of the USSR. It's now a state-owned company with a board of directors drawn from the ministries and presidential administration. It is the largest and most active public opinion firm in Russia. Most findings are available free only in Russian.
Angus-Reid offers global monitoring: short descriptions in native English of various polls taken around the world. The site offers a search function at the bottom of home page). Public Opinion Foundation was originally part of VTsIOM, but became an independent non-profit in 1992. It's often used by such entities as the presidential administration, the Central Bank, and Gazprom. The site is broadly organized by topic or chronology. ROMIR Monitoring is Gallup International's representative in Russia. Their site offers most polls for free with handy figures and graphs to boot. However, they have provided no organization other than chronology. Try Google's "search site" option on this one. The Levada Center is perhaps the best respected agency in Russia for polls, analyses, and studies covering economics, sociology, and politics. Their site is has lots of information and ostensibly has English/Russian mirrors, but actually makes little distinction between the two. Especially interesting is their Syllabi of Courses on Economic Sociology. 5. Political Parties and Movements report an error back to top Russia Profile offers a list of major political parties, their objectives, history, and websites. Make sure to notice the selection bar at the top of the screen. The list, while quite comprehensive, is not complete. Many smaller (and usually more radical) groups have not been included. Most of these groups, it seems, also do not have websites. Panaroma, a Russian publication, gives a dated but much more full list in Russian including more information on platforms and leaders. The National Bolshevik Party is often blocked from elections, usually for failing to meet requirements or not filing the proper paperwork. They are often recognized as one of Russia's most sensational parties, staging odd protests and loud sit-ins in government buildings. VPERYOD is a socialist movement. Thier site has lots of information in Russian about Marxism and similar movements across the FSU. Russian Communist Workers Party - Revolutionary Party of Communists is also too small to meet the minimum requirements of the Central Election Commission. They support "fundamental Marxism-Leninism" and seek to reverse the "counter-revolution of 1991-1993." Also of interest are: Radikaly.ru, Liberal.ru, Conservative.ru, and Democracy.ru which offer extensive commentary and information about various political views in Russia. 6. Youth Politics report an error back to top The National Youth Congress of Russia is an umbrella organization which gives young people the opportunity to hold "mock congresses," discuss youth issues with legislators, and disseminate information between their organizations. List of member organizations.  Nashi is Russia's largest political youth group. Their main goals are opposing fascism and supporting the president and its government with patriotic and optimistic rallies and rhetoric.
The Young Guard is United Russia's official political youth movement. It's main goals are to draw young people into politics, oppose fascism, and help preserve the current government order after 2008. Young Russia is yet another pro-Kremlin conservative youth group. They specifically stand against the National Bolshevik Party, the "Orange Threat," and "U.S.-Sponsored Liberals. They are for "youth who love their country and take responsibility for their future." Za Rodina is the youth group of Russia's ultra-nationalist party. Their stated goals are to support the party itself, whose slogan, interestingly and concerningly, is "We dispel the forces of darkness. – It's morning, Fatherland! Attack!" Komsomol is the communist youth league that has existed since Soviet times. It's website states that the organization seeks to "found a government in which the idea of social justice will dominate. Where there will be not need to think about how to make ends meet and where there will always be money for education. Where every young person can realize his/her full potential and serve society." The Vangaurd of Communist Youth (AKM) are young, ardent, militant communists. Many describe them as Stalinist. Their official publication is known as "Controlled Shot." The League of Action is run in part by Open Russia, it seeks to draw young people into the economic, social and political activity of the various regions. Every regional structure also has an official office for youth politics. See for example the sites of those for Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Irkutsk. 7. Selected Articles, Interviews, and Papers report an error back to top From Vestink, The Journal of Russian and Asian Studies:
8. Government Agencies and Structure report an error back to top  Renaissance Capital offers easy to understand, interactive maps and charts descriping the political structure of Russia.
The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation provides lots of information about itself and Russia’s election laws in English. Democracy.ru provides still more information about electoral legislation and a list of Regional Election Commissions across Russia. The Russian government's official site has links to information about nearly every government structure and office subject to the federal government. Federal Structures:
Presidential Administration - President Putin's official site.
The Russian Ministries - Ministers are basically equivalent to Secretaries.
State Duma - Russia's Congress.
The Federation Council - Russia's Senate.
Public Chamber - A rather unique structure intended to represent the public interest, advise the government on legislation, and oversee its implementation.
The Constitutional Court - Russia's Supreme Court. The Council to the President for the Realization of National Projects also recently opened a website. The National Projects are: Health, Education, Housing, and Agriculture. They are intended to raise living standards, but are criticized as being poorly planned and implemented. The SRAS Encyclopedia of Russian Government Institutions a small but growing supplemental resource. Moscow City Government holds special status within the Russian Federation. It runs its own website with public forums, daily legal briefs, etc. St. Petersburg also has a similar, though far less extensive site. 9. Legal Codes report an error back to top
The following links offer full English translations of Russian legal codes. The translations are not always the most readable - but they are helpful in understanding the legislation. The project is sponsored by an organization called "Open Russia," which should not be confused with Khodorovsky's organization. This Open Russia seems to be a dealer of safety equipment. Russian-Customs-Code.com
Russian-Criminal-Code.com
Russian-Tax-Code.com
Russian-Offences-Code.com
Russian-Customs-Tariff.com
Russian-Civil-Code.com 9. NGOs - American report an error back to top The Council on Foreign Relations is a highly influential think tank on world politics. Recently, their report "Russia's Wrong Direction" caused a major stir in international politics. The National Endowment for Democracy distributes millions of dollars in grants every year to fund democracy movements in the FSU. They also offer a library, a free newsletter, and announcements of conferences and events. It's funded by the US government. Transnational Crime and Corruption Center is devoted to teaching, research, training and formulating policy advice in transnational crime, corruption and terrorism. Much of their work to date has centered on Russia and Eastern Europe. It is operated as part of the American University. Carnegie Moscow Center is part of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The Center accommodates foreign and Russian researchers collaborating with Washington staff on a variety of topical areas and policy-relevant projects related to the military, government, and economy. The American Enterprise Institute studies politics, economics, and sociology. The Kennan Institute, part of the Woodrow Wilson Center, is devoted to Russia and the surrounding areas. See their grants page as well. Brookings Institute analyzes public policy around the world including Russia's. 10. NGOs - Russian report an error back to top Fund for the Development of Parliamentarianism in Russia was created by a presidential order from Vladimir Putin to study and analyze Russian politics with an aim to developing a parliamentary government. Its site offers considerable information in English, but has not apparently been properly maintained for a few years.  Open Russia is one of Russia's "endangered" NGOs - both active and vocal in its drive to foster civil society in Russia, it was founded by M. Khodorkovsky, the jailed former CEO of YUKOS. Open Russia has recently had its funds frozen on the basis that, since much of it came from M. Khodorkovsky, much of it originated from illegal sources. Center for Political Technologies is one Russia's largest, most respected, and most quoted (by Russian and foreign media), analytical think tanks. Among their clients for political and business consulting are most Russian government agencies, the World Bank, and Transneft. The Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) is an think-tank operating under the Russian Academy of Sciences. It provides analysis of world political and economic events for the benefit of political decision makers. The Levada Center is perhaps the best respected agency in Russia for polls, analyses, and studies covering economics, sociology, and politics. Their site is has lots of information and ostensibly has English/Russian mirrors, but actually makes little distinction between the two. The Gorbachev Foundation was one of Russia's first independent think tanks. It still works to study the political situation in Russia, Russian international relations, and to build a more equitable, democratic order. International Foundation for Civil Liberties (Kolokol.org) is an organization founded by billionaire Boris Berezovsky to promote the development of civil society in Russia, among other things. The Congress of Russian Americans works to promote and preserve Russian culture in the US and represent the interest of Russian immigrants within the US. 11. Other report an error back to top  Mikhail Gorbachev’s personal website lots of info on his history and current political activity, which is extensive.
Vladimir.vladimirovich.ru is Russia's favorite site for political humor. However, its subdued storytelling which places Vladimir Putin in the position of the "every-Russian," while provided in English, is most often not funny to one removed from the culture and traditions. Politforums.ru is a reasonably popular public Internet political forum. This site can be great for those advanced speakers seeking examples of how native Russian speakers express (yes, sometimes half-baked) political thoughts. Institute for Collective Action offers a an interesting array of liberal political humor and thought.
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