Russia Transformed : Developing Popular Support for a New Regime

Draws on unique public opinion surveys to show how, with the passage of time, Russians have learned to cope with their transformed society. While there remains great dissatisfaction with the corruption and faults of the new regime, it has become accepted as a lesser evil to alternatives.

Since the fall of communism Russia has undergone a treble transformation of its political, social and economic system. The government is an autocracy in which the Kremlin manages elections and administers the law to suit its own ends. It does not provide the democracy that most citizens desire. Given a contradiction between what Russians want and what they get, do they support their government and, if so, why? Using the New Russia Barometer - a unique set of public opinion surveys from 1992 to 2005 - this book shows that it is the passage of time that has been most important in developing support for the new regime. Although there remains great dissatisfaction with the regime''s corruption, it has become accepted as a lesser evil to alternatives. The government appears stable today, but will be challenged by constitutional term limits forcing President Putin to leave office in 2008.