The Influence of Economic Development on Democracy in France and Russia Both France and Russia are republics with a semi-presidential system, but they both differ substantially in that France is a functioning democracy whereas Russia is a competitive authoritarian state. Despite the similar intentions of their governmental systems, both countries differ in terms of their economic development, which has in turn contributed to the striking dichotomy between the politics of both countries. While France has maintained steady growth in its gross domestic product (GDP), Russia has seen damaging declines in GDP growth. France, a wealthy nation with a healthy and stable economy, was able to maintain democracy; however, negative economic trends in
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Yeltsin’s ambitious plans expected to produce a short recession, but the recession did not end when expected and the country was left in a state of disarray. Yeltsin oversaw a decrease of approximately fifty percent in gross domestic product and industrial output (World Development Indicators). The newly wealthy were moving billions of rubles out of the country, the death rate skyrocketed and millions plunged into poverty (Huygen). With investors pulling out of Russia’s sinking economy, most people were suffering in the newly capitalist country. Generalized dissatisfaction shifted the nation’s focus from implementing democracy to restoring order. As such, it was easy for figures like Vladimir Putin to seize control of the country, promising a return to order. The economic conditions in Russia became so paramount to its society that they served a distraction from the important transition …show more content…
The primary cause for the difference in both country’s politics is their economies––Russia struggled through the transition to capitalism during the 1990s and while France experienced a depression, its economy was much better off. The difference in economic development between both countries speaks to the greater idea of political economy––politics and economics are an inseparable whole. The economics of both countries tell a story of how social welfare influences legitimacy and in turn how the politics of these countries played out to result a democratic France and a competitive authoritarian
Yeltsin’s ambitious plans expected to produce a short recession, but the recession did not end when expected and the country was left in a state of disarray. Yeltsin oversaw a decrease of approximately fifty percent in gross domestic product and industrial output (World Development Indicators). The newly wealthy were moving billions of rubles out of the country, the death rate skyrocketed and millions plunged into poverty (Huygen). With investors pulling out of Russia’s sinking economy, most people were suffering in the newly capitalist country. Generalized dissatisfaction shifted the nation’s focus from implementing democracy to restoring order. As such, it was easy for figures like Vladimir Putin to seize control of the country, promising a return to order. The economic conditions in Russia became so paramount to its society that they served a distraction from the important transition …show more content…
The primary cause for the difference in both country’s politics is their economies––Russia struggled through the transition to capitalism during the 1990s and while France experienced a depression, its economy was much better off. The difference in economic development between both countries speaks to the greater idea of political economy––politics and economics are an inseparable whole. The economics of both countries tell a story of how social welfare influences legitimacy and in turn how the politics of these countries played out to result a democratic France and a competitive authoritarian