Oligarchy and Autocracy
Russia’s Hybrid Political System
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
The political system that has come into being in Russia over the past ten years is a mixture of oligarchy and autocracy. Economics and politics are fused. How political decisions are made remains extremely opaque. Thus corruption is flourishing. The forms of political communication are archaic; a true aggregation and articulation of interests does not take place. Instead of a democratic decision-making process, a few companies exert influence on politics. A national pride produced by the media and a dazzling stage-managing of power are supposed to provide legitimacy. But the economic crisis shows: The system is dysfunctional and thus unstable. If the rulers really want to modernise Russia, a new Perestroika is needed.
(Osteuropa 8/2010, pp. 25–46)