Russian authorities and society: on the threshold of a new social contract

The article is dedicated to examining the current state of relations between the Russian authorities and society. The authors adopt the theory of the social contract as the primary methodological framework for their analysis, suggesting that society and the authorities coexist within an implicit and uncodified agreement that may evolve over different historical periods. In the course of their research, the authors conducted nine in-depth interviews with practitioners and theorists in the Russian political sphere. Based on their findings, they conclude that currently, due to external factors, the Russian social contract has entered a transitional stage characterized by a high level of consolidation around the government on one hand, and certain risks on the other, which, if ignored, could lead to dissatisfaction among certain groups of citizens. The authors thoroughly examine the factors and potential triggers for this dissatisfaction and forecast the establishment of a new social contract between the Russian authorities and society in the future. The article also delves into the new social groups that have emerged in the current Russian context, with a separate focus on the youth’s situation during in-depth interviews.