Popular support for an undemocratic regime : the changing views of Russians / Richard Rose, William Mishler, and Neil Munro.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Machine generated contents note: Introduction: the need for popular support; 1. Democratic and undemocratic models of support; 2. Changing the supply of regimes; 3. Putin consolidates a new regime; 4. Increasing support for an undemocratic regime; 5. Individual influences on regime support; 6. Time tells: there is no alternative; 7. Finessing the challenge of succession; 8. The challenge of economic reversal; 9. Maintaining a regime: democratic or otherwise.

All forms of government require popular support, whether voluntary or involuntary, in order to survive. Following the collapse of the Soviet system, Russia's rulers took steps toward democracy, yet under Vladimir Putin Russia has become increasingly undemocratic. This book uses a unique source of evidence, 18 surveys of Russian public opinion from the first month of the new regime in 1992 up to 2009, to track the changing views of Russians. Clearly presented and sophisticated figures and tables show how political support has increased because of a sense of resignation that is stronger than the unstable benefits of exporting oil and gas. Whilst comparative analyses of surveys on other continents show that Russia's elite is not alone in being able to mobilize popular support for an undemocratic regime, Russia provides an outstanding caution that popular support can grow when governors reject democracy and create an undemocratic regime.