Can Democracy Take Root in Post-Soviet Russia?

by Harry Eckstein

Exploring the dynamics of state-society relations in post-Soviet Russia, noted scholars examine the nature of authority patterns within and between state and society. The authors explain congruence theory and employ it to interpret contemporary Russian politics. They assess the relative merits of state- and society-centered approaches to the study of democratic transitions and consider the value of survey research in identifying authority patterns; the nexus of mass and elite political attitudes; and the role of social, political, and economic institutions. Weighing the importance of political inclusion, the book evaluates the role of elites and the public in the transition and possible consolidation phases of Russian democratization. With its strong theoretical orientation, this pathbreaking volume raises new issues in the study of post-communist politics and, from the unifying perspective of congruence theory, provides a range of views on these hotly contested issues.

432 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998