POLITICAL CONSENSUS AS A WAY TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF POLITICAL COURSE IN RUSSIA

Abstract

The article focuses on the problem of achieving political agreement in the Russian society as a whole, as well as in the political elite. The meaning of the term “political consensus” is considered in the introduction. Then the author writes about dynamics of consensus-building after the break-up of the USSR. The attempts of the values-based consolidation of society and achievement of agreement after V. Putin becoming the President of Russia are described. But based on political science, it is said that object of this consensus is just a current politics, not values and goals of development, and its symbol is a personality of leader. On the base of findings of democratic elitism theorists the author pays attention to the highest political levels as potential subjects of formation of public agreement. After detailed description of features of the Russian political class it is said about possibilities of achieving consensus in Russia, which is necessary for continuity of political course.