Social Welfare of Citizens in the Programs of the Russian Political Parties

The article presents an analysis of the views of the leading political parties on the social policy of the state. The object of the study is the policy documents of political parties that participated in the elections to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation in 2016. In 1990, the USSR abolished the monopoly position in the state of the ruling Communist party of the Soviet Union. It was the basis for the revival of the multi-party system. Now in Russia, there is already a considerable experience of party construction. Almost thirty years of practice in the development of the national multi-party system needs a comprehensive scientific analysis. Political parties are the leading institution of the democratic political system. To further improve the party system, it is necessary to systematise, identify strengths and weaknesses, identify problems and prospects for development, generalise, study and multiply the best practices of party building. The article analyses the views of the leading political parties on the social policy of the state. The object of the study is the policy documents of political parties that took part in the elections to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation in 2016. The analysis shows significant differentiation, both in the objectives and in the methods of implementing social policy. For most parties, social issues are a priority. About the problem of the social welfare of citizens, the author proposes the differentiation of parties into five groups.

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