ABSTRACT
While mass confidence in state and societal institutions is often considered the hallmark of democratic governance, elite support has been less studied. The Russian change of regime in 1991 was a process initiated and dominated by the elite, and apathy among the masses remained widespread even once democracy had been established. Thus, the problem of legitimacy in Russia should also be analysed from an elite perspective. One should ask whether the elite support institutions and leaders, and what implications such support has for democratic stability. The purpose of this study is not so much to identify a single ‘power-elite’. By comparing a large number of elites reflecting basic values and orientations, the aim is to map out some aspects of Russian political culture related to democratic performance.
