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. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 List of Figures......Page 9 List of Tables......Page 10 Preface......Page 11 1 Investigating Russian Political Culture......Page 14 2 Political Culture as a Research Agenda......Page 31 3 Surveying Attitudes in Russia: a Representation of Formlessness......Page 58 4 Uncertain Conditions in the Russian Transition: the Popular Drive toward Stability in a 'Stateless' Environment......Page 81 5 Concepts in the Making: How Russians Define Their Political World......Page 125 6 Activity and Apathy: the Extremes of Politics in the Komi Republic......Page 147 7 Russians as Political Participants: Looking Away from Politics......Page 163 8 Russian Relations with Authority: the Call for Strength and Unity in Leadership......Page 189 9 Formlessness and Cultural Recreation......Page 222 Appendix......Page 247 Notes and References......Page 249 Bibliography......Page 270 E......Page 277 P......Page 278 S......Page 279 Z......Page 280 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