Introduction: Transformation and its aftermath -- 1. Time matters: the dynamics of regime support -- 2. The supply of regimes: democratic and autocratic -- 3. A changing supply of Russian regimes -- 4. Uncertainties of transformation: a view from the bottom -- 5. Changing levels of regime support -- 6. Social structure and the evaluation of regimes -- 7. The influence of political values and performance -- 8. Finding the economic influences that matter -- 9. The impact of the passage of time -- 10. What could challenge the new equilibrium? -- Appendix A. New Russia Barometer samples -- Appendix B. Coding of variables
Summary
Since the fall of communism Russia has undergone a treble transformation of its political, social and economic system. The government is an autocracy in which the Kremlin manages elections and administers the law to suit its own ends. It does not provide the democracy that most citizens desire. Given a contradiction between what Russians want and what they get, do they support their government and, if so, why? Using the New Russia Barometer - a unique set of public opinion surveys from 1992 to 2005 - this book shows that it is the passage of time that has been most important in developing support for the new regime. Although there remains great dissatisfaction with the regime's corruption, it has become accepted as a lesser evil to alternatives. The government appears stable today, but will be challenged by constitutional term limits forcing President Putin to leave office in 2008
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 211-222) and index
