Rimskiy Vladimir

CIVIL SOCIETY IN RUSSIA IN THE NEAREST FUTURE: THE RESULTS OF THE EXPERT RESEARCH STUDY

The article summarizes the conclusions of the experimental project “The short-term scenario forecast of civil society development in Russia” conducted from February till April, 2009 by the ZIRCON Research Group together with the Economic Strategy Institute. The research study carried out within the paradigm of the exploratory forecast on the basis of the expert survey method shed light on the high differentiation among the experts’ opinions on the Russian civil society state and its prospects. There were neither conforming nor even prevailing opinions on hardly any parameters characterizing the development of civil society. Evaluating such ambiguity and controversy of the “expert consciousness” as being reflective of the subject in question itself, the authors come to conclusion that today the Russian civil society is at a bifurcation point, after which its development with the same degree of probability might take several paths that are fundamentally different.

DOI: 10.30570/2078-5089-2009-55-4-143-157

Bureaucracy, Clientalism and Corruption in Russia.

The article is based on the series of empiric studies conducted by INDEM Foundation since the late 1990-ies with the direct participation of the author. V. Rimskiy addresses the problem of understanding of corruption especially in its current national interpretation. The author sees the specifics of the Russian corruption in its strong ties with the bureaucratic system of public administration. The factor of the underdevelopment of power and property with its deep historic roots is the special focus of the article. The author also dwells on the formation and widening of corruption networks that control significant resources.

V. Rimskiy is sure that only the system approach can combat corruption. In particular, this phenomenon cannot be curbed without reforming of the bureaucratic administration system and its adaptation to the resolution of real problems in the country.

DOI: 10.30570/2078-5089-2007-44-1-65-84