Comparative Analysis of Regional Elite of The Communist Party and «Just Russia»: Social Characteristics and Channels of Recruitment

Abstract

The article presents a comparative analysis of the socio-demographic characteristics and recruitment channels of the regional political elite of CPRF and «Fair Russia». The study uses heads of regional party branches as a political elite group that holds key positions in party structure and selects candidates for all levels of elections. The empirical data includes 170 representatives of the party elite. The analysis showed differences in the age structure of the party elite. The largest demographic group of the Communist Party is people over 60 years old, in «Just Russia» the same group is between the ages of 40 and 50. During the last years, CPRF begun management reform and system renewal of staff policy by young party leaders, in contrast to «Just Russia» where the system of elite recruitment is rather random. The representation of women in the elite of both parties is insignificant and amounts to 9% in the Communist Party and 11% in the «Just Russia». The study traces an increase in the share of professional lawyers among the younger generation (25-40 years old) of regional elite in both parties. Finally, we have identified significant differences in the key recruitment channels of elite groups. About 50 per cent of persons from CPRF were appointed to the elite position because of their long and active party work. In «Just Russia», the key recruitment channel is large and medium-sized regional business.