Formation of Elite in Russia: Conflict and Consensus

Abstract

Writing of the article is determined the following reasons. Firstly, the increasing role of elites in the modern global world needs strategic decisions in acute shortage of time. Secondly, the growing role of administrative and political elites concentrated in the executive authorities in the period when the role of parliamentarism and political parties weakens regardless of political regimes. Thirdly, the actual growth of the presidency role in Russia, when a semi-presidential form of government is actually transformed into a super-presidential, which led to the reformation in elite-formation. The authors are aimed to reveal the causes that led to creation of a elite-formation-model typical of Russia. The authors come to the conclusion that Russia belongs to the category of states where mobilization model of development dominates. It was established due to natural and geographical features of the country and the necessity to preserve the territorial integrity of the state as well as to ensure its safety. The Soviet administrative-bureaucratic system formed in conditions of external threats and lack of resources for development, led to the creation of specific system elite-formation, called nomenclature. External stability of the Soviet nomenclature system of elite-formation turned out to be misleading in reality as it couldn’t resist to internal and external challenges of the late 80-ies of XX century. The process of elite-formation in Russia has an asymmetrical wave-like nature, which is reflected in successive phases of conflict and consensus. During this phase of the conflict phase often becomes latent in nature, getting a form of consensus.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s7p71