Comparative politics wk2 - Essay Example

Since Vladimir Putin orchestrated the consolidation in 1999, the problems of centralized power continue to haunt the society as the political, geographic, and economic powers among others continue to reside in wealthy individuals close to the leadership (World Savvy Monitor, 2008). The over centralization and some policies enacted, deny freedom not only to the citizens, but also to the foreigners. It is always difficult for people to exercise competition, within areas where democracy is not fully embraced.

The power of democracy links electoral result as means of instigating political parties and strengthening competition. During president Putin’s era, several reforms in the Electoral body took place, which have limited political competition. According to Shishlov (2004), “the December 2002 law on elections of state Duma Deputies shortened campaign period, limited the conditions under which candidates could be removed from the ballot, imposed restriction on media coverage and expanded the Central Election Commission’s Authority over subordinate regional elections commission.

” The political system of the Russian federation is centralized giving the few (president, prime minister, federal assembly, and the multiparty political system) concentrated power to exercise control over the resources and the society. Through this, the president uses his power to appoint important government postings to groups of elites loyal to the Kremlin, 75 percent coming from the Russian security forces to serve in the Russian corporate sector higher ranks (World Savvy Monitor, 2008).

Often, the appointed individuals serve as state machineries and various functions of different departments have been altered by the centralized power, to act as administrative instruments. According to Shishlov, “single centre of power controls everything; the media, the secret services, business, the courts, parliament and the elections”