Experts saw a lot of good and just a little unpleasant in the past year

The Expert Institute for Social Research (EISR) summed up the political results of the outgoing year on Tuesday. According to the round table participants, the dominant factors that determined the political agenda for 2023 were, in particular, the consolidation of Russians around the national leader, the failure of the anti-Russian aspirations of the West and the debut of education as “a new format of communication between the state and society.”

The five events that determined the agenda in 2023 were presented by EISI Director for Interaction with the Expert Community Firdus Aliyev. Along with new educational formats, the unity of Russian society, the failure of Western strategies to weaken the Russian Federation and elections, including in new regions, which demonstrated the preservation of “all the features of normality” of the political system, Mr. Aliyev especially highlighted the consolidation around the national leader: “This is event number one , which determined the political picture of 2023 and will influence the picture of the coming year.”

The unity is confirmed by sociological survey data. Thus, 58% of respondents (versus 31% in 2021) believe that there is national unity in the Russian Federation, and 76% approve of the president’s activities, said VTsIOM representative Stepan Lvov: “Support for the course is the most important component that allows us to talk about the presence of consolidation.” . The sociologist also noted the growing trust in governors, the growth of ratings of the government and the prime minister (including positive assessments of their work in countering sanctions) and the general desire of citizens to be proud of the country: 92% of respondents feel this need.

The autumn elections, including in new regions, became a direct manifestation of this consolidation, political scientist and member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation Alexander Asafov is sure. “We use the word “routine” in a somewhat loose context, considering that it is something annoying and tiring. But in essence, routine is order,” he reasoned. “And the “routinization” of electoral processes, their perception as a way (of manifestation.— “Kommersant”) relationship to state formation is important.” The expert emphasized the high, “contrary to stereotyped perception,” confidence in elections and recalled that the key event in early 2024 will be the presidential elections: “The importance of participation in a big state matter for people is much higher than in other times; conscious participation and expression of support will be higher “

As cohesion strengthened, the distance between society and the authorities, which noticed numerous civil initiatives of a patriotic nature, decreased, as follows from the speech of member of the Public Chamber Daria Kislitsyna. “There are many examples when governors on Sundays simply go to places where they weave camouflage networks, not in front of cameras, and also participate in this,” she shared. “Confidence in governors has increased because they themselves are actors in these processes and go beyond political technological framework.”

The consolidating role of novels in education was explained by political scientist Vladimir Shapovalov. According to him, the renewal of the school social science direction, the introduction of “Conversations about what is important,” attention to the anthem and flag, and the course “Fundamentals of Russian Statehood” are becoming the foundation of the education system. “This is one of the main political events, since it is the formation of citizenship, patriotism, the values ​​of our fellow citizens, the younger generation, which is very important from the point of view of consolidation, unity of society and awareness of oneself in one’s country,” the expert is sure.

The “obvious failure” of the West in trying to weaken Russia was not forgotten either. Political scientist Alexey Chesnakov emphasized that the strategy of ill-wishers not only failed in 2023, but also has no “exit points” in the future. And political scientist Pavel Danilin came to the conclusion that 2023 ultimately turned out to be the “year of the white swan”: “Everyone expected that “black swans” would fly, but we had the only “black swan” that took off in the context of the “Prigozhin case” “. But his society immediately forced him to repaint himself white with a powerful demand for consolidation and the prevention of discord.”

Consolidation will not have a negative impact on the activities of opposition parties and parliamentarism in general, experts assured, answering a corresponding question from Kommersant. “Against the background of consensus, I don’t see any harm to either political competition or the freedom of parliament. And I think that opposition parties should live and work, and not engage in, as they called it in the Soviet Union, rallies,” noted Alexander Asafov, pointing out that sociology does not show “a demand for show elements in politics.”

His colleague was supported by Pavel Danilin, who referred to his own rating of the activity of State Duma deputies: “There is no infringement in the activities of different parties: for example, Dmitry Gusev (SRZP) was in the top ten ratings, Boris Chernyshov (LDPR) together with Vladislav Davankov (New People”)”. And even the refusal of the SRZP to nominate its presidential candidate does not indicate the problems of the opposition, added Alexey Chesnakov: “In some elections, parties compete with each other, in others they can find common platforms.”

Grigory Leiba