Leadership and Elite Projection of Regional Political Processes in Russia (Following the Panel Sociological Studies)

Abstract

The submitted research is devoted to estimation requirements to a leadership component of political management in modern Russia generated as realized by experts and in popular consciousness. This paper presents and analyzes experts and public opinion poll findings in several regions of Russia. Following the results of survey the leadership and elite configuration, in the Russia of our modern age represented by a triad “President – Heads of territorial entities of the Russian Federation – municipal authorities”, is described. Analysis of desirable and available leadership style of representatives of the Russian establishment of different levels, criteria of selection of political leaders have been performed; stability of the modern Russian elite, its key positive and negative features in the eyes of expert community and in popular consciousness have been evaluated. Timeliness of this research is arising from changes in foreign policy status of Russia, extension of its political and economic clout, increase of its significance in the international stage. These positive trends not least result from leadership skills of the leader of the State and his team officials both at national and at regional levels. And the contest for the support or discrediting of the country’s leadership starting under these circumstances requires a thorough valuation of actual position of the leader and his environment in the context of the resource of their authority. Based on the research data, authors of the research note a linkage between rates of leadership and elite skills of Leader of the State and efficiency of political management.