This article has been published in the 1:2004 issue of Politique étrangère.Abstract

This article examines the transformations which followed the collapse of the Soviet Union. The author analyzes the functioning of institutions and new developments within Russia (the issues of alternative elections, separation of powers, decentralisation, and 'pluralist' medias). At the same time, he looks at the transformations which the old institutions have undergone (the institutions of the army, the security services, the judiciary, education and research). He also considers new phenomena specific to a highly bureaucratized Russian market economy (the 'oligarchs', the 'clans', the 'teams', 'privatized' State areas of action and structures). According to the author, the Russian regime distinguishes itself from that of developed democracies not only through the existence of 'superfluous elements', but also through the presence of 'institutional gaps' which exist between the State and society as a result of the latter’s inability to organize itself politically and defend its interests.

Alexei Salmin is the President of the Russian Public Policy Center Foundation and the Professor of the Moscow Institute of International Relations (Political Science).