Contemporary Technological Revolution – A Challenge for Russian Authorities

Abstract

The paper explores the subject of Russian authorities’ reaction to realities and effects of the current technological revolution. The content of this response is outlined, yielding a fundamentally new level of mastery over substance, energy and information. The technological revolution is considered as a challenge to public authorities, i.e. a problem – the most important one by its essence, scale, impact on the present and the future of all society’s areas and the public life in general. In Russia, this challenge is particularly relevant due to the country’s growing technology gap. Statistical data and facts confirming this widening gap are provided. It is emphasized that an adequate response to this emerging challenge cannot be partial or local; it needs to have systemic nature and connection with all key aspects of the state policy. A misalignment of current Russian authorities’ aspirations, imperatives and practice with the technological revolution’s logic and needs is demonstrated. The state policy does not match the interests of innovative development, does not create the necessary conditions for this development or its subjects. As a result, the main potential subjects of technological innovations (the paper identifies the main groups of such subjects) objectively cannot create or implement new technologies and have no subjective interest (incentives / motivation) for that.