Post-Soviet political party development in Russia: Obstacles to democratic consolidation

The thesis examines the process of party system formation in the Russian Federation after the collapse of communism. The process of democratization in Russia, which began in 1991, involved a complex restructuring at the institutional, socio-political and even psychological levels. The establishment of political parties and their subsequent development in Russia has been a lengthy and complicated process. This thesis provides a chronological and analytical overview of the main stages of party system development, focusing on such factors and indicators as historical legacy, the State Duma elections, and evolving leadership. Party system development in post-Soviet Russia encountered a number of obstacles, and its future is dependent upon a variety of factors, which are examined in the last sections of the thesis. The conclusion of the thesis evaluates why political parties are weak in contemporary Russia, and attempts to predict the future role of parties in Russian political life.