#7 - JRL 7256
Rosbalt
Alexander Yurev: Russia Has No Political Parties

SAINT PETERSBURG, July 18. Russia does not have political parties in any real sense, according to research carried out by Alexander Yurev, the head of St. Petersburg State University's Political Psychology Department. The leaders of political parties do not have significantly different approaches to resolving particular problems, which makes it impossible to give parties a firm place in the political spectrum. Yurev suggests that the only real differences between parties are their names. Similar conclusions have previously been voiced in the media, but Yurev is the first person to carry out proper research into the issue.

Yurev's work is the first real attempt to put forward criteria for analyzing the Russian political system. Previously analysis of Russia has been based on Western models of classification, indicating the weakness of the Russian political system and civil society.

On July 22, Rosbalt will take part in a presentation of Yurev's work. The presentation will include 'portraits' of President Vladimir Putin, Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznev, Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov, Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and the following parties: United Russia, the Communist Party, the Union of Right Forces, the Liberal Democratic Party, the People's Party and the Party of Life.

The aim of the work is to create a series of 'portraits' of Russian politicians and parties and compare them to Western political figures and organisations. This will enable Russian politics to be incorporated into the international system of political criteria and standards.