Civilizational representation of the elite-formation process in the doctrinal dimension and political practice

Цивилизационная репрезентация элитообразующего процесса в доктринальном аспекте и в политической практике

Alexander M. Starostin (Старостин А.М.), Alexander V. Ponedelkov (Понеделков А.В.) and Elena N. Tovanchova (Тованчова Е.Н.)
Additional contact information
Alexander M. Starostin (Старостин А.М.): Don State Technical University
Alexander V. Ponedelkov (Понеделков А.В.): Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, South-Russian Institute of Management
Elena N. Tovanchova (Тованчова Е.Н.): Rostov State Transport University

State and Municipal Management Scholar Notes, 2026, vol. 1, 144-154

Abstract: Introduction. The deepening and increasing complexity of transitional processes caused by a strategic rejection of the model of pro-Western socio-political convergence and a shift toward a course of comprehensive civilizational sovereignization characterize the current stage of development of Russian society and the state. The intensification of geopolitical confrontation, military-political risks, sanctions pressure, and internal structural imbalances has exacerbated the problem of the ef-fectiveness of public administration and the quality of ruling elites. Under these circumstances, the substantive and value-oriented aspects of political and managerial agency become especially important, thereby enhancing the relevance of elitological concepts as essential instruments for analyzing and predicting political evolution. Of special scientific and practical relevance is the study of the civilizational conditionality of the elite-formation process and the possibilities of its transformation within the emerging model of the “state-civilization,” aimed at mobilizing the internal potential of Russian society and ensuring the long-term sustainability of national development. The purpose of the study is to conceptualize the civilizational conditionality of the elite-formation pro-cess in contemporary Russia, as well as to identify the conditions for enhancing the effectiveness of political and managerial agency in the context of the strategy of state-civilizational sovereignization. The methodological framework of the study is based on the political-elitological paradigm and the civilizational approach. The research employs methods of doctrinal analysis, comparative-historical and systems approaches, and the results of an interregional expert survey conducted in 2024, aimed at assessing the state and value orientations of contemporary Russian political elites. Results. The study demonstrates that the previously dominant universalist elitological mainstream is losing its relevance under conditions of a shift in Russia’s political course. The authors present a critical assessment of the limitations of administrative-bureaucratic governance mechanisms and elites oriented toward private and situational interests. The necessity of a civilizational re-norming of the elite-formation process is substantiated, including the principles of public service, responsibil-ity, professionalism, patriotism, and acmeological selection. The authors’ vision of civilizational elite specificity is presented as a key factor in unlocking the mobilization potential of Russian society. Conclusions. The article argues that the successful implementation of the “state-civilization” model is impossible without the formation of civilizationally oriented political elites. The activation of the mobilization capabilities of Russian society based on civilizational identity and sovereignty is regarded as a necessary condition for overcoming contemporary and potentially emerging risks and threats.

Keywords: elites; elite formation; civilizational values; state-civilization; sovereignty; political governance; civilizational identity; elitological paradigm; mobilization potential; civilizational engineering (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
ftp://w82.ranepa.ru/rnp/smmscn/s26111.pdf

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:rnp:smmscn:s26111

Access Statistics for this article

State and Municipal Management Scholar Notes is currently edited by Tatiana Ignatova

More articles in State and Municipal Management Scholar Notes from Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by RANEPA maintainer ().