The ‘Oligarchs’ in Russian Mass Consciousness

Abstract

Since 2000, when economic and political life in Russia has been stabilizing, Russian society (and in particular its most proactive part, which perceives itself as a‘subject’ and not an ‘object’ of transition) has been in search of a new agenda. Drawing a line under the 1990s, representatives of the business community, political parties and the expert community began intensive discussions with regard to the formulation of a new economic-political strategy. Meanwhile the notorious slogan ‘transition to the market’ was replaced by the term ‘modernization’ — even more indefinite in its content. The question is who could effect this modernization? Apparently it is the economic elite of the society — those social groups and strata that possess sufficient resources to influence economic development.