Socio-Economic Results and Political Consequences of Privatization of 1990s for Russia and Saint Petersburg

Abstract

The socio-economic results and political consequences of Russian privatization of the 1990s are examined. The relevance of the study is due to the fact that market reforms, including the privatization policy, significantly influenced all spheres of life in post-Soviet society, forming a social model of post-communist Russia. Accordingly, the study of this issue allows us to better understand not only the nature of one of the most fundamental historical transitions of the late XX century, but also the specifics of modern Russian society. The influence of economic reforms on social changes is analyzed, demographic shifts are considered, the transformation of the social structure of post-communist society is examined. The regional dimension is revealed on the example of St. Petersburg. The transformation of the social structure is examined in more detail on the example of individual social groups: workers, the rural population, the intelligentsia, the military, the political elite, oligarchs, and criminals. The relationship between the social and political consequences of privatization is analyzed. The research information base was composed of statistical sources, memoirs, transcripts of meetings of the State Duma, legislation, the press of Russia and St. Petersburg, audiovisual sources, opinion polls, and archival materials, including funds of the State Archive.