The Russian Federation — challenges after the transition
Practice Flashcards
Flip to reveal answersWhen did the Soviet coup attempt happen, and who led it?
Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.
All 12 Flashcards — The Russian Federation — challenges after the transition
Sign up free to track progress and get spaced-repetition review schedules.
Question
When did the Soviet coup attempt happen, and who led it?
Answer
August 1991. Hardline Communist officials (the 'Gang of Eight') tried to remove Gorbachev and stop his reforms.
Question
Who stopped the August 1991 coup?
Answer
Boris Yeltsin, standing on a tank outside the Russian parliament building, rallied crowds and troops against the plotters. The coup collapsed within three days.
Question
What was the constitutional crisis of September–October 1993?
Answer
A power struggle between President Yeltsin and Russia's parliament over how much authority the president should have. Yeltsin dissolved parliament; deputies barricaded themselves inside; Yeltsin sent tanks to shell the building on 4 October 1993.
Question
Define: shock therapy
Answer
Sudden removal of Soviet price controls and rapid privatization of state industry, applied almost overnight from January 1992.
Question
What is hyperinflation, and how bad was Russia's?
Answer
Extremely fast, out-of-control price rises. Prices in Russia jumped by around 2,500% in 1992 alone, wiping out ordinary people's savings.
Question
Who were the oligarchs?
Answer
A small group of businessmen who bought former state industries (oil, metals, media) cheaply during 1990s privatization and became extremely wealthy and politically powerful.
Question
Why did organized crime grow so fast in 1990s Russia?
Answer
Weak policing, a collapsing economy, and vast state assets up for grabs let criminal gangs move into business, extortion and even banking largely unchecked.
Question
What was the First Chechen War (1994–1996)?
Answer
A war between Russian forces and separatists in Chechnya, a republic seeking independence. It ended in a humiliating Russian withdrawal and a badly damaged army reputation.
Question
Content vs. context in Paper 1 source work — what's the difference?
Answer
Content = what the source actually says or shows. Context = who made it, when, why and for whom — which shapes how reliable or useful it is.
Question
Why might a 1993 Western newspaper cartoon and a Yeltsin government press release disagree about the same event?
Answer
Perspectives differ by origin and purpose: the cartoon may criticize Yeltsin for a Western audience, while the press release defends government action for domestic reassurance.
Question
How does 'significance' apply to the October 1993 crisis?
Answer
It marked the moment Russia's power struggle turned violent and directly shaped the more authoritarian 1993 Constitution — a turning point, not just an event.
Question
What overall picture do strikes, hyperinflation, crime and the Chechen war build for Q3 (perspectives)?
Answer
Together they show how differently people experienced the transition — some sources stress economic collapse, others state weakness, others national humiliation — useful for a perspectives answer.
Read the notes
Full study notes for The Russian Federation — challenges after the transition
Topic 3.2 hub
The Russian Federation (1985–1999)
More from Topic 3.2
All flashcards in this topic
History (2028+) exam skills
Paper structures & tips
Track your progress with spaced repetition
Sign up free — Aimnova tells you exactly which cards to review and when, so you remember everything before your IB exam.
Start Free