Regime Transition, Recession and Intoxicated, Violent Men: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of the Effects of the 1991 Transition on Russian Gender Dynamics Through a Feminist Lens

Abstract

With the fall of Soviet Union and the collapse of communism in 1991, the country of Russia commenced a period of regime transition, setting into motion social and economic effects for years to come. Most notably, and alarmingly, the health of the population began to deteriorate, marked by increasing mortality rates and decreasing life expectancies, especially among young and middle-aged men. A significant factor in these premature mortality rates was the increase in alcohol consumption among men as a means of coping with the stress of the transition. Furthermore, relationships between men and women, both generally in society, as well as in the context of an intimate partner relationship, were fundamentally modified due to the stress and turmoil of the transition. Terming this concept ‘gender dynamics,’ I argue that the developments, patterns, and residual effects from the 1990s have endured and have remained significant to the present day, illustrated by the current domestic violence/IPV against women epidemic in Russia.

Through a mixed-methods analysis, employing qualitative components and insight, as well as employing data from the International Dating Violence Survey, 2001-2006 to conduct quantitative analysis, this thesis uncovers support for the aforementioned theory operating through the mechanism of ‘gender dynamics.’ The combination of qualitative and quantitative results offers a more comprehensive and multifaceted understanding of the historical origins of the current domestic violence crisis.

To best recommend policy and an effective path forward for the Russian government, taking into account the multiple aspects and factors in domestic violence against women is vital; this report does just that, putting forth policy recommendations that consider and address the disparate dimensions of the problem, dating back to the 1991 transition.