Political Culture in Post-Communist Russia : Formlessness and Recreation in a Traumatic Transition

Taking a unique qualitative approach to studying Russian political culture, this book presents an in-depth analysis of the attitudes and activities of residents in two provincial capitals, Syktyvkar and Kirov. It shows evidence of underlying democracy in popular opinions. It also finds an authoritarian side that is being strengthened by the ongoing crisis of Russia's transition. In entering a controversial subject area, the author directs a critical eye toward the contemporary research on Russian political culture. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Investigating Russian Political Culture....Pages 1-17 Political Culture as a Research Agenda....Pages 18-44 Surveying Attitudes in Russia: a Representation of Formlessness....Pages 45-67 Uncertain Conditions in the Russian Transition: the Popular Drive toward Stability in a ‘Stateless’ Environment....Pages 68-111 Concepts in the Making: How Russians Define their Political World....Pages 112-133 Activity and Apathy: the Extremes of Politics in the Komi Republic....Pages 134-149 Russians as Political Participants: Looking Away from Politics....Pages 150-175 Russian Relations with Authority: the Call for Strength and Unity in Leadership....Pages 176-208 Formlessness and Cultural Recreation....Pages 209-233 Back Matter....Pages 234-267 Examining post-Soviet Russian political culture, this is an analysis of the attitudes and activities of residents in Syktyvkar and Kirov. It shows evidence of underlying democracy in popular opinions and finds an authoritarian side strengthened by the crisis of Russia's transition