Origin of Oligarchs
What major event created the conditions for oligarchs to rise?
The collapse of the Soviet Union.
What industries did oligarchs mainly control?
Oil, gas, metals, and natural resources.
Which Russian president relied heavily on oligarch support?
Boris Yeltsin
Name one famous Russian oligarch from the 1990s.
Boris Berezovsky / Mikhail Khodorkovsky / Roman Abramovich.
What type of system replaced independent oligarch control?
State-controlled capitalism.
What economic system replaced communism in Russia in the 1990s?
Capitalism
How did many oligarchs get rich so quickly?
Buying state assets at extremely low prices.
What election did oligarchs help influence financially?
The 1996 election.
Which leader came to power promising to control oligarchs?
Vladimir Putin
What happened to oligarch power under Putin?
It became controlled by the state.
What was the rapid economic reform program called?
Shock Therapy
What advantage did many oligarchs have from Soviet times?
Connections to government and insider knowledge.
What did oligarchs gain in return for political support?
Influence over government decisions.
What happened to some oligarchs who opposed Putin?
They were jailed, exiled, or lost their businesses.
What happened to independent oligarchs under Putin?
Many were removed or punished.
What happened to state-owned industries after the USSR collapsed?
They were privatized.
What controversial program allowed oligarchs to gain major companies?
Loans-for-shares
What term describes a system where wealth and political power mix?
Oligarchy
Which oligarch became famous for owning Chelsea Football Club?
Roman Abramovich.
What kind of relationship did Putin create with oligarchs?
They could keep wealth if they stayed loyal.
Why were assets sold cheaply during privatization?
The government was desperate for cash and lacked control.
What role did corruption play in the Oligarch's rise?
It allowed deals, favoritism, and unfair access to wealth.
How did oligarchs influence media?
By owning TV stations and newspapers.
Which oligarch was linked to the oil company Yukos?
Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
What is the “grand bargain” between Putin and oligarchs?
Loyalty in exchange for protection and wealth.