Russia’s path towards democracy was an
a priori
difficult task. The country’s undemocratic
inheritance played a major role in influencing the growth of civil society and shaping
the country’s
political culture. Those pre-existing factors led to the revolution from above, which constitutes themost determinant one. The continuity of the political elites impeded a genuine participation thecitizenry and inhibited a negotiated transition, which would enable broader consensus amongst the
country’s political powers.
This process had a domino effect which led to the power strugglebetween the president and the legislative. During this unsettled period the constitution, theeconomic reforms as well as the federal system were adopted. In a highly polarised political scene,the imposition of the rules by the victor seemed the only possible way. All the above mentionedfactors led to a super presidential constitution, a highly centralised state in federal clothing and aneconomy which failed to distribute wealth in a fair and just manner. Today
Russia’s hope fordemocracy lies within the growing middle class of young and educated people in the country’s major
cities. Wheth
er they manage to overcome the obstacles of Putin’s regime is yet to be seen