Buyanov N.A.

Purpose. The research paper is devoted to the creation of a collective portrait of members of the Public Chamber of the Sverdlovsk region. The subject of the study is the socio-demographic and socio-professional characteristics of the members of the regional Public Chamber. Practical experience shows that at certain moments of acute public discussions, when a platform is needed for the coordination of interests between the society (or its separate active group) and the ruling elite, the regional Public Chamber plays a passive role and takes a "wait-and-see" position. The discrepancy between the theory and practice of the functioning of this institution requires the presence of some explanatory model. The hypothesis of our research is the following: the reason that the regional Public Chamber does not always cope with its function (to be a place of coordination of interests of different groups of society and authorities) is its personnel. Methods. The article is based on Ignacio Arana's concept of elites, positional approach, and the theory of deliberative democracy. De jure, members of the elite derive their influence from their legal, formal positions, while de facto members of the elite exercise influence based on their role in society. The first category includes such positions as heads of state, heads of government, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, judges, governors, deputies, party leaders, ambassadors, advisers and senior civil servants. The second category includes businesspersons, lobbyists, Trade Union leaders, analysts, scientists, journalists, and opinion leaders. In our case, the members of the regional Public Chamber are the de facto political elite. Comparativism (method of comparative analysis) was the main analytical tool. The biographical method was used in the research paper. Results. Because of the study, the authors concluded that a typical member of the regional Public Chamber is a mature man with the education in a technical field engaged in socially useful activities. Scientific novelty. An explanatory model of the passive role of the regional Public Chamber is proposed.