Social mobility in the contemporary sociological picture of Russia

Article is an overview of concept «the social mobility» to new realities of modern Russian society. Short digression to the theory of social mobility allowed selecting the most optimum concepts applicable to the analysis of institutes of social mobility. Social mobility represents a complex concept. It is not only process of movement of the individual in social structure, but also a resource for realization of the individual opportunities. The author analyzes the channels of social mobility - a family, education, armed forces, political parties, property, hierarchy and job specialization, system of administrative and judicial punishments, media. It is noted that such channels as the labor market and education have the weak role in social mobility; these institutes are capable to act as management tools as practicians of social mobility thanks to availability of various regulators. Social mobility implies availability of certain «social lifts». They have both the objective, and su b-jective bases. Openness of society acts as result of availability of confidence of the individual in own opportunities to increase in the social status. Successful functioning of the «social lifts» allows to reduce the social polarization. It is summarized that process of enhancement of management of social practicians and institutes of social mobility shall assume complexity.