The purpose of this study is to analyse the effect of 'security threat' on the intensification of authoritarianism in Russia. International and domestic security threats have driven the 'construction of a strong Russia' which in turn, used to create a...
The purpose of this study is to analyse the effect of 'security threat' on the intensification of authoritarianism in Russia. International and domestic security threats have driven the 'construction of a strong Russia' which in turn, used to create and intensify the authoritarian political system. Ultimately the power is concentrated on the President himself and his circle.
In this study, the main source of security threat and its countermeasures are reviewed. Also the effects of security threat on the authoritarian political system are analyzed. Main factors of security threat are terrorism and separatism movement, fear over the resurrection of Stalinism, and NATO's expansion, etc. These factors are used as tools for the effective centralization of political power, the enactment of anti-terrorism law, the militarization of power elite, and the nationalization of energy industry. Through these measures, Russia's ruling elites could consolidate their power bases, also effectively neutralize the opposition's challenges as well as regions' defiances. As a result, the federalism and peoples' voices are weakened.