Thread: Russia's political spectrum.

What are the various parties and their political platform? Is Russia, although it is such a diverse country, generally a liberal country like Canada or conservative country like the US?

The question is way too simplistic to answer directly. The factors driving politics and politicians in Russia have so little in common with those in N America that any comparison in terms of Right/ Left or Liberal/ Conservative is worthless.

Also remember that, whilst the differences between the governments in Canada and the US, or the Democrats and Republicans inside the US, are at times seen as ideolgical chasms in N America, to many outsiders the differences are so negligable as to be irrelevant.

Прошу прощения, писать буду по русски.Мой английский пока ещё собачий, прекрасно понимаю,но пишу плохо.
В Россия как всегда идёт по своему пути.
Вот список партий допущенных к выборам(взято с http://www.plutovstvo.ru/index.php?pg=n ... 2003-11-03)

1. Концептуальная партия «Единение».

2. Партия «Союз правых сил» (СПС).

3. Блок «Российская партия пенсионеров -Партия социальной справедливости».

4. Партия «Яблоко».

5. Партия «За Русь святую».

6. Партия «Русь».

7. Блок «Новый курс - Автомобильная Россия».

8. Народно-республиканская партия России.

9. Экологическая партия «Зеленые».

10. Аграрная партия России (АПР).

11. Партия «Истинные патриоты России».

12. Народная партия Российской Федерации (НПРФ).

13. Демократическая партия России.

14. Блок «Великая Россия - Евразийский союз».

15. Партия Мира и Единства.

16. Блок «Родина».

17. Партия «Союз людей за образование и науку» (СЛОН).

18. Либерально-демократическая партия России (ЛДПР).

19. Блок «Партия возрождения России - Российская партия ЖИЗНИ».

20. Партия «Единая Россия».

21. Российская конституционно-демократическая партия.

22. Партия «Развитие предпринимательства».

23. Коммунистическая партия Российской Федерации (КПРФ).

24. Против всех.

Надо сказать, что если бы последний пункт заменили на (Да пошли они все на....) То он бы набрал наибольший процент голосов.И это не смешно. Так что в принципе у нас в стране есть только отчаявшиеся, центристы и левые.

Uhm, excuse me... Speaking as a Scandinavian, I'm not totally statisfied with getting the options "liberal", "concervative" and "centre" to choose from here.

And I do believe this triple split of the political landscape would be a bit problematic in many other countries outside the the USA too. North Americans, US-Americans in particular, might have liberal-concervative as main political sides but other places ...like, oh say, North, West and South Europe the "liberals" and "concervatives" bunch up against "social democrats", "democratic socialists", "left-socialist", "liberal socialist", "random radicals" or whatever that side might call themselves.

Example: In Norway, over fifty percent say they will vote social-democratic, left-socialistic or centre party (these tree are one block). I think this situation goes for all of North Europe.

Maybe this forum concists mostly of US-Americans, but when it's a forum about another part of the world and supposed to be open to the whole world... You might want to globalize those choises a bit? At least put in a fourth option called "leftist" or something to that effect?

And I don't know if any Russians hang around in this forum, but if so, mabe you should add "Communist" as a fifth box, them being quite a big party still.

*Note that I leave out East Europe: I could need some education on Russian politics myself. The image I get is that all major parties are corrupt, wether the leaders say they are Nationalist, Communist, Liberalist or just "Putin's Party".

Koba:

Could you please translate those party names to English?

And it would be great if you - or someone else - could write a bit bout them. Or at least the big ones.

I took the opportunity to translate Koba's message:

Прошу прощения, писать буду по русски.Мой английский пока ещё собачий, прекрасно понимаю,но пишу плохо.
В Россия как всегда идёт по своему пути.
Вот список партий допущенных к выборам(взято с http://www.plutovstvo.ru/index.php?pg=n ... 2003-11-03)
Forgive me but I'll write in Russian. My English still isn't that good, I understand it great, but I write badly.
In Russia it always goes it's own way.
Here is a list of the parties permited to elections(taken from 'website')

1. Концептуальная партия «Единение».
Conceptual party "Unity"

2. Партия «Союз правых сил» (СПС).
Party "Union of Right Forces"

3. Блок «Российская партия пенсионеров -Партия социальной справедливости».
Block "Russian Party of Pensioners - Party of Social Fairness"

4. Партия «Яблоко».
Party "Apple"

5. Партия «За Русь святую».
Party "For Holy Rus"

6. Партия «Русь».
Party "Rus"

7. Блок «Новый курс - Автомобильная Россия».
Block "New policy - Automobile Russia"

8. Народно-республиканская партия России.
People's Republican party of Russia

9. Экологическая партия «Зеленые».
Ecological Party "Green"

10. Аграрная партия России (АПР).
Agricultural Party of Russia

11. Партия «Истинные патриоты России».
Party "True patriots of Russia"

12. Народная партия Российской Федерации (НПРФ).
People's Party of the Russian Federation

13. Демократическая партия России.
Democratic Party of Russia

14. Блок «Великая Россия - Евразийский союз».
Block "Great Russia - Euro-Asian Union"

15. Партия Мира и Единства.
Party of Peace and Unity

16. Блок «Родина».
Block "Motherland"

17. Партия «Союз людей за образование и науку» (СЛОН).
Party "Union of People for Education and Science"

18. Либерально-демократическая партия России (ЛДПР).
Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia

19. Блок «Партия возрождения России - Российская партия ЖИЗНИ».
Block "Party of the revival of Russia - Russian party of LIFE"

20. Партия «Единая Россия».
Party "United Russia"

21. Российская конституционно-демократическая партия.
Russian Constitutional-Democratic Party

22. Партия «Развитие предпринимательства».
Party "Development of Free Enterprise"

23. Коммунистическая партия Российской Федерации (КПРФ).
Communist Party of the Russian Federation

24. Против всех.
Against everybody

Надо сказать, что если бы последний пункт заменили на (Да пошли они все на....) То он бы набрал наибольший процент голосов.И это не смешно. Так что в принципе у нас в стране есть только отчаявшиеся, центристы и левые.
It must be said that if the last point was substituted for (Screw them all) it would have taken the largest percent of votes. And this isn't funny. So in principle in our country there are only desparing, centrists, and leftists.

By the way, Mihkkal, I don't think I've seen you around here before. Are you learning Russian?

Good work, Pravit!

And here are my assumptions about the election results:


#20 - "United Russia" - 20-25%
#23 - KPRF - 20-25%
#2 - SPS - 5-15%
#4 - "Apple" - 5-10%
#18 - LDPR - 5-8%
All others - more luck next time


Maybe I'm wrong... ok, let's wait and see. Your bets?

Spasiba!

What an earth sort of ideological platform (real or presumed) does a party called "Apple" have ?!?

"Despairing, leftist, centrist" is what I've heard about Russia, yes. But what about rightwing? People who vote for this guy Zhirinovski (?) and his lot, they must probably fit in a fourth cathegory or...?

And what about "despairing leftists" who don't like any party? I've heard about some group calling themselves Novye Ljevye (?) where Boris Kagarlitsky (Moscow Times) has a leading role... Do you know anything about this or similar groups?

And finally: Russian NGO's and unions, how much popularity and influence do they actually have? And is there corruption in these too?

Regarding the last question: Yes, I'm new to the forum. I'm beginning on a bachelor in Russian Studies at the Troms

Originally Posted by Mihkkal

What an earth sort of ideological platform (real or presumed) does a party called "Apple" have ?!?

"Apple" is a straightforward translation of Russian "Яблоко" (which does mean "apple"), but it is in fact an acronym made of the initials of the founders of the party. Most of them have left the party by now, and the party has essentially become a one-man platform, whose name is Явлинский (Yavlinsky), the first initial in the party's name. Have a look here: http://www.eng.yabloko.ru/Programme/...abl-LIbint.htm, it is the history and the platform in a nutshell. The manifesto: http://www.eng.yabloko.ru/Programme/...manifesto.html. The site contains a lot more, mostly in Russian, though.

But what about rightwing? People who vote for this guy Zhirinovski (?) and his lot, they must probably fit in a fourth cathegory or...?

There is a bloc named "The Union of Right Forces" which is apparently as rightist as it gets in Russia. It is not much different from Yabloko, though. They have a site but it's almost entirely in Russian: http://www.sps.ru.

Zhirinovsky is hardly in the right wing, he's in the centre, it is just that he likes to speak aggressively.

And what about "despairing leftists" who don't like any party? I've heard about some group calling themselves Novye Ljevye (?) where Boris Kagarlitsky (Moscow Times) has a leading role... Do you know anything about this or similar groups?

The "communists" have proven a disappointment to their electorate, so there have been a few new blocs. I don't think they are going to be important.

And finally: Russian NGO's and unions, how much popularity and influence do they actually have? And is there corruption in these too?

Virtually none. Chiefly due to corruption.

[quote]Regarding the last question: Yes, I'm new to the forum. I'm beginning on a bachelor in Russian Studies at the Troms

One of our political parties in Holland also has 'appel' in it, (Christelijk Democratisch Appél), but with an accent on the e... (appel means apple, appél means appeal/call)
Just thought you might want to know.

Originally Posted by Mihkkal

Spasiba!
What an earth sort of ideological platform (real or presumed) does a party called "Apple" have ?!?

I'll describe "Yabloko" as a some kind of social-democrates.
They aspire to "capitalism with a human face".
As badmanners already explained, the party name originally derived from acronim of the names of cofounders: YAvlinsky, Boldyrev, Lukin - YABL+oko = in Russian "apple". Firsttimes this name was a kind of pun. Later it became official, and kind of stylized apple became official party logo:

Originally Posted by Mihkkal

"Despairing, leftist, centrist" is what I've heard about Russia, yes. But what about rightwing? People who vote for this guy Zhirinovski (?) and his lot, they must probably fit in a fourth cathegory or...?

No. If you want description of Zhirinovskly's political platform, it will be something like "left-right-center ultra-populism".
Actually, they are very oppositional in their claims, but always supporting the "party of power" in their deeds.

Originally Posted by Mihkkal

And what about "despairing leftists" who don't like any party? I've heard about some group calling themselves Novye Ljevye (?) where Boris Kagarlitsky (Moscow Times) has a leading role... Do you know anything about this or similar groups?

Never heard much about them, but I think they support CPRF.

Originally Posted by Mihkkal

And finally: Russian NGO's and unions, how much popularity and influence do they actually have? And is there corruption in these too?

NGO = Non-government organisation? And what unions do you mean - trade unions?

Кстати об яблоке. В своё время,когда оно появилось, создателям предлогали назвать своё детище как
Болдырев
Лукин
Явлинский
По известным причинам это не случилось

About apple.When the party was created, One of offered names was
Boldirev
Lukin
Yvlinskiyi

Thank you.

What does По известным причинам это не случилось mean? Does the abbreviation BLYA also make up a Russian word, kazhetsya?

Regarding Novye Lyevye, I at least know as much about them that they don't like the CPRF... Not too strange since headman Kagarlitsky ("The Eternal Dissident") has experienced prison during both the Soviet system and this system.

Shame about the NGOs and corruption, though I find it hard to believe it applies to everyone... like the Koalitsiya Angel (http://www.angelcoalition.org) and Prirodi I Molodyezh (http://www.pim-murmansk.narod.ru). Regarding the first, their goal of fighting traficking must involve fighting corruption. And about the second, what use do capital power have of environmentalists

So, I don't see how corruption can be destroying all NGO work? How does corruption work in such organizations anyway? It might sound naive to ask, but bribing NGOs hardly gives you a seat in parliament,and getting involved with organized crime is hardly an advantage when fighting pollution.

Regarding unions, I mean worker's unions (don't know if this is the same as trade unions). Are they still working with the Communist Party? Are they big, are they powerful, corruption-stricken - and if so, what kind of corruption.

badmanners: Polar Night is here, allright, in all it's might... Whatever took you to this world's end, by the way? (not dissing my hometown here, but it does lie at the north front of civilisation - Barentsburg next). Regarding the Tunnels, I think everyone with a car has done that - Urban myth has it the labyrinth will eventually become so huge, the entire island will collapse.

Jasper: One of the reasons I wondered about the Apple Party was that we've got a party with an apple logo up here as well, and I thought maybe YABLOKO was a sister-party or something. Our "Progress party" is a bunch of ultra-rightwingers who basically want untamed capitalism, no social welfare and no more non-european immigrants. They're the jumping around in the polls from biggest to fourth biggest party these days... App

What does По известным причинам это не случилось mean? Does the abbreviation BLYA also make up a Russian word, kazhetsya?

Certainly. This obscene word. Very much it is frequently used as a link-verb. It mean ~hussy.

Урок русского языка в спецшколе цру.
Тема занятия:"Виноводочный магазин"
Преподаватель:Все усвоили тему?Есть вопросы?
Студент: Я не понял, где в фразе "Мужики,кто последний за водкой" должен стоять неопределённый артикль б.я.

Originally Posted by Mihkkal

Thank you.

What does По известным причинам это не случилось mean? Does the abbreviation BLYA also make up a Russian word, kazhetsya?

And quite obscene one. :P

Originally Posted by Mihkkal

Regarding Novye Lyevye, I at least know as much about them that they don't like the CPRF... Not too strange since headman Kagarlitsky ("The Eternal Dissident") has experienced prison during both the Soviet system and this system.

Shame about the NGOs and corruption, though I find it hard to believe it applies to everyone... like the Koalitsiya Angel (http://www.angelcoalition.org) and Prirodi I Molodyezh (http://www.pim-murmansk.narod.ru). Regarding the first, their goal of fighting traficking must involve fighting corruption. And about the second, what use do capital power have of environmentalists

If you're interested in environmental organisations of Russia, there's quite a lot of them. Just go to www.yandex.ru, look for "Экологические организации России" and find a plenty of links.

Originally Posted by Mihkkal

Regarding unions, I mean worker's unions (don't know if this is the same as trade unions). Are they still working with the Communist Party? Are they big, are they powerful, corruption-stricken - and if so, what kind of corruption.

As I know, the largest trade-union organisation is FNPR (Федерация Независимых Профсоюзов России). They aren't directly associated with communist or other parties. Their official site can be found at http://www.fnpr.org.ru

Originally Posted by Mihkkal

So, I don't see how corruption can be destroying all NGO work? How does corruption work in such organizations anyway? It might sound naive to ask, but bribing NGOs hardly gives you a seat in parliament,and getting involved with organized crime is hardly an advantage when fighting pollution.

Sorry, I actually meant the unions when I answered this question. Unions do exist, but most workers or employees, who care about them, are mad at them. For example, the new Labor Law is widely considered very bad.

As for the NGOs, I cannot think of any that is important. Greenpeace might be an exception, but it is not really a Russian NGO.

badmanners: Polar Night is here, allright, in all it's might... Whatever took you to this world's end, by the way? (not dissing my hometown here, but it does lie at the north front of civilisation - Barentsburg next).

I actually made it to the northern end, which is Honnigsvag And then slightly farther, to that famous cliff

Regarding the Tunnels, I think everyone with a car has done that - Urban myth has it the labyrinth will eventually become so huge, the entire island will collapse.

Anyway, it is very impressive. Your country is very big on tunnels, in general. Which came as a surprise, because my mental image of Norway had been "a country of seafarers", not of mountain folk.

But there might have been a lot of dwarves in Norway, they are of Germanic race after all.
As for бля, it is nor artcle neither link-verb. It is a parenthetical word.

Originally Posted by Scorpio

Good work, Pravit!

And here are my assumptions about the election results:


#20 - "United Russia" - 20-25%
#23 - KPRF - 20-25%
#2 - SPS - 5-15%
#4 - "Apple" - 5-10%
#18 - LDPR - 5-8%
All others - more luck next time


Maybe I'm wrong... ok, let's wait and see. Your bets?

Oops. I WAS wrong. (But you probably know it already. )

Originally Posted by Scorpio

Originally Posted by Scorpio

Good work, Pravit!

And here are my assumptions about the election results:


#20 - "United Russia" - 20-25%
#23 - KPRF - 20-25%
#2 - SPS - 5-15%
#4 - "Apple" - 5-10%
#18 - LDPR - 5-8%
All others - more luck next time


Maybe I'm wrong... ok, let's wait and see. Your bets?

Oops. I WAS wrong. (But you probably know it already. )

На всякий пожарный приведу последние данные ЦИК:
Единая Россия 36,7%
КПРФ 12,8%
ЛДПР 12%
Родина 8,9%
Яблоко 4,2%
СПС 3,9%
Аграрная партия 3,9%
Против всех 4,7
Практически все страны отрицательно отнеслись к этим выборам. А что, интересно, господа русские думают о них? Чувствовалось ли какое-нибудь давление на вас или что-нибудь подобное? Я по крайней мере в своей деревне ничего подобного не заметил . По-моему результаты выборов соответствуют настроениям.