Russia - as of 2023 a dictatorship

Is Russia a dictatorship?

And if yes, what are the signs suggeesting it indeed is an authoritarian country ruled by a Dictator?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as different scholars and experts may have different criteria and opinions on what constitutes a democracy. However, some possible reasons why Russia is not considered a democracy by many observers are:

• The central government retains significant authority over regional and local governments, and can intervene in their affairs or dismiss their leadershttps://www.britannica.com/place/Russia/Government-and-society.

• The president has extensive powers that allow him to appoint key officials, issue decrees, dissolve the parliament, and call for referendumshttps://www.britannica.com/place/Russia/Government-and-society.

• The electoral system is not free and fair, as the ruling party dominates the media, the opposition faces harassment and intimidation, and the vote counting is often fraudulenthttps://www.cfr.org/article/precarious-future-russian-democracy.

• The judiciary is not independent, as the courts are subject to political pressure and corruption, and often rule in favor of the government or its allieshttps://www.cfr.org/article/precarious-future-russian-democracy.

• The civil society is weak and repressed, as the government restricts the activities of non-governmental organizations, human rights groups, independent media, and political activistshttps://www.cfr.org/article/precarious-future-russian-democracy.

These are some of the factors that may explain why Russia is not a democracy according to many sources. However, some people may disagree or have different perspectives on this issue.

How did Russia become an authoritarian state?

This is a complex and contested question that may have different answers depending on the historical period and the analytical perspective. However, some possible factors that contributed to Russia’s authoritarian turn are:

• The legacy of Soviet communism, which left behind a centralized and repressive state apparatus, a weak civil society, and a culture of political apathy and cynicismhttps://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/abstract/document/obo-9780199756223/obo-9780199756223-0205.xml.

• The economic and social turmoil of the 1990s, which eroded public trust in democratic institutions and market reforms, and created a demand for stability and order
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/abstract/document/obo-9780199756223/obo-9780199756223-0205.xmlhttps://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2022/03/how-russia-descended-into-authoritarianism.

• The rise of Vladimir Putin, who exploited his popularity, charisma, and control over the security services to consolidate power, eliminate rivals, and suppress dissent
https://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2022/03/how-russia-descended-into-authoritarianism https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/russia/https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/russia/.

• The role of natural resources, especially oil and gas, which enabled Putin to boost state revenues, co-opt elites, and pursue an assertive foreign policy
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/abstract/document/obo-9780199756223/obo-9780199756223-0205.xmlhttps://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/russia/.

• The weakness of the opposition, which failed to offer a credible alternative to Putin’s regime, and faced harassment, intimidation, and repression
https://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2022/03/how-russia-descended-into-authoritarianismhttps://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/russia/.

These are some of the factors that may explain how Russia became an authoritarian state according to many sources. However, some people may disagree or have different perspectives on this issue.

The following links are giving some insight about Russia, its opposition and recent events about the Russian Federation.