Putinism After Putin. The Deep Structures of Russian Authoritarianism
Putinism After Putin. The Deep Structures of Russian Authoritarianism

Author(s): Maria Domańska
Subject(s): Political history, Government/Political systems, Political behavior, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010)
Published by: OSW Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich im. Marka Karpia
Keywords: Vladimir Putin; Russian authoritarianism; authoritarian tradition; power struggles in Russia; Barriers to Russia’s democratisation;
Summary/Abstract: The Russian model of authoritarian rule owes its durability to the ‘deep structures’ that constitute the foundation of the Russian political system and political culture. These deep structures encompass an entire complex of basic values, norms, behaviour patterns and co‑dependencies between them, which are manifested in two pivotal phenomena. Firstly, it is the patrimonial notion of the state as being the personal property of the leader; and secondly, it is the logic of patron‑client relations as the main factor organising the sphere of socio‑political interactions. The deep structures have so far prevented genuine and sustainable democratisation in Russia. Their present‑day continuing dominance in the socio‑political environment will also hamper possible attempts to democratise the country in the post‑Putin period.

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