ABSTRACT
The short history of elections, campaigning, and voting in the Russian Federation is a monument to the failure of parties, campaigns, and elections to create a democratic government. One of the greatest experiments in electoral democracy has ended in a society in which political parties and what remains of an elected parliament have almost no political authority. This happened despite the adoption of a modern constitution that appeared to encourage political parties and the free exchange of information in election campaigns. Instead, the legacy of a strong leader continues with an authoritarian president. The president is technically elected by popular vote, but he has consolidated this position primarily through the relentless manipulation of the media system— especially during election campaigns.
