The perception of corruption by the Russians as the social problem

The article presents a sociological analysis of Russians' perceptions of corruption as a social problem. As the empirical base, the authors use the results of sociological research, conducted in Yaroslavl by the Institute of the Development of Strategic Initiatives in 2015 and 2017. The article shows that experts and ordinary citizens perceive corruption as a source of social disorganization and at the same time endowed with significant functions, which contribute to the adaptation of individuals and social groups. Secondly, corruption is considered to be predominantly as the problem of power, not society. Thirdly, the objective to oppose corruption entrusted mainly to the state institutions by means of realization of restrictive and prohibitive measures. The ambivalence of the functions of corruption, combined with paternalistic attitudes in the field of solving this problem, hampers the implementation of effective anti-corruption policies. The perceived ambivalent and latent functions of corruption in society and paternalist expectations of citizens, as far as this social problem concerns, enable us to conclude that the social resources, presented by the anticorruption public opinion and legal consciousness in order to counter corruption, are not sufficiently developed. Citizens largely are not ready to take an active part in the implementation of anticorruption politics yet.