CHANGE OF WAYS OF LEGITIMATION OF THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT’S POWER IN THE PERIOD FROM 2012 TO 2018

Abstract

Purpose. To analyze changes in the ways of legitimation the power of the President of the Russian Federation from 2012 to 2018 and to identify the impact of political and socio-economic factors on this process. On the basis of the analysis to determine the most effective ways of legitimation of the power of the President of the Russian Federation at the present stage of socio-political development of Russia. Methods. On the basis of the modern classification of the ways of legitimation of power the analysis of two regular forms of communication of the President of the Russian Federation is carried out: «Direct line» with citizens and the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly with elites. The choice of the subject of analysis (transcripts of the «Direct lines» and the presidential Address) is explained to the heterogeneity of the processes of legitimation of power, depending on the recipient of legitimation (people, elites). Thus, the ways of legitimation are analyzed not only on the basis of a given time interval, but also on the basis of the characteristics of the recipients' perception of the legitimizing message. Results. The main ways of legitimation the power of the head of state used in the framework of the «Direct line» and the Presidential Address are revealed. A comparative analysis of the features of legitimation through the «Direct line» and Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly. The factors contributing to the increase of the level of legitimacy of the Russian President's power before the Presidential elections in March 2018 are identified. The ways of legitimation, allowing to maintain a high level of legitimacy of the presidential power in difficult socio-economic conditions, are revealed, and the features of their use are defined. Scientific novelty. The method of determining the ways of legitimation of the power of the President of the Russian Federation is developed. On the basis of this approach, the most effective ways of legitimation of the power of the President of the Russian Federation are identified, as well as the prospects for their further use.