Laboratory of the Future Asks Russians Whether Their Country Even Needs a Parliament

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Sept. 17 – A few weeks ago, the independent sociological Laboratory of the Future asked Russians when Russia in its current state really needs a parliament, Elena Panfilova and Aleksey Levinson say. While only three percent answered in the affirmative, many others gave answers that were less than a resounding endorsement of the Duma as an institution.

            Eleven percent said Russia needed a parliament because all “civilized” countries have one, the two sociologists said; 25 percent said it was needed to express the views of the population; but the largest share – 28 percent – said the Duma’s job was to help the president  Duma (novayagazeta.ru/articles/2026/09/17/nuzhen-li-strane-parlament).

            Given the way in which the Russian political system actually operates, one in which the president dominates everything including what the Duma does, this is hardly a ringing endorsement of the very idea that Russia needs a parliament at all, Panfilova and Levinson continue.

            They suggest that one of the reasons Russians give such answers is that they know very little about what he Duma actually does or what it could do if it lived up to its constitutional role. According to a recent Russian Field survey, more than half of those surveyed could not give the right answer to any of four questions about the Russian parliament.

            Such attitudes and ignorance are especially striking now as Russia heads toward the end of a lengthy campaign to elect a new Duma; but together they reflect the increasing decision of Russians to go their own way while allowing the Russian powers to go their own, a not unreasonable position given how little influence the population has on the powers.