The political process of modern russia and the concept of institutional matrices

Abstract

The article discusses the features of political process in Russia from the perspective of institutional matrices theory by S.G. Kirdina. During the description of contemporary political process in Russia, the authors examine its dependence on Y-matrix, the development and operation of its basic institutions. The task of these institutions influence on the political process of Russia development is set as the main purpose of the study. The following hypothesis is put forward in order to achieve this goal: is the influence of Y-matrix basic institutions an insurmountable obstacle for the modern Russian democracy development. The work includes the following methods and techniques as the methodological basis of research: neoinstitutional, systemic and structural-functional approaches, sociological, historical and logical methods, as well as the analysis of basic and variable factors influencing the political process of modern Russia. We came to the following conclusions after research: social institutions are the support of any society, the structure of the basic fundamental institutions forms a special matrix where the basic institutions are in a mutual accordance and close cooperation. Economy, politics, ideology are the most important aspects among these institutions. A society cannot be burdened with institutions, which are not inherent to it. It is impossible to replace one institution by another one, even if its effectiveness is discovered hardly in another country, but which does not meet the entire system of complementary, mutually relevant, harmonious and complementary rules, norms and institutions. The characteristic features of the modern political process in Russia: the strengthening of the unitary-centralized political system, the increase of a state role and its paternalistic nature, the imitative nature of democratic reforms, the reduction of public policy field, the power distancing from society, the growth of bureaucracy, etc. All these trends are consistent with the basic provisions of institutional matrix theory, the basic institutions of Y- institutional matrix, and can be projected on the modern Russian political process.