Psychological Status of Russian Society between the Latest Parliamentary and the Future Presidential Elections: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Paper presents the data from the study of psychological status of Russian society. As the study has shown a number of psychological parameters (concepts of justice, some political values, the level of infl uence of President Putin in public mentality) preserves rather consistent for a long time. Other indicators are transformed substantially under the infl uence of some factors including elections. Inertial character of the last elections gave tactical victory for authorities but caused political demobilization of Russian society. Respodents’ images of Prime Minister, Presidential Administration, State Duma, governors, municipal power, courts, procurators and political parties substantially declined after 2016 elections. At the same time one could see the increase of the infl uence of the Council of Federation, security agencies and intelligence service. It also should be noticed that a radical views substantially declined as the conservative trend increased. It means that success of the United Russia was proved. At the same time one can speak about a clear growth of the left moods as the growth of the socialist and communist ideas was fi xed in this study. Elections improved the image of authorities: respondents evaluate them more positively now. There is a new trend of decline of traditionally personifi ed images of authority and the growth of the infl uence of political parties and groups though all the parties have lost their infl uence. One can suggest that citizens got used to this party system. The demand to have a formal party representation proves that values of formal democracy have been rooted in mass mentality.