политическая элита

The article discusses the features of the study of elite layers in the writings of the sociologist populists. Special attention is drawn to a distinctive direction of populist sociology as a subjective sociology, represented primarily by P. L. Lavrov and N. K. Mikhailovsky. We give a general description of the sociological views of sociologistpopulist trends, the factors that determine the specificity of its formation in the Russian society and the base of «critically thinking individuals» theories P. L. Lavrov and «heroes» N. K.

В статье автор останавливается на анализе базовых проблем формирования сравнительно новой отрасли – социологии поли- тической элиты. Особое внимание обращается на такие сложные и дискуссионные проблемы, как категориальный аппарат и, пре- жде всего, сама категория политической элиты, теоретико-мето- дологические подходы к ее определению и анализу характерных признаков. Определяется их эвристический потенциал, возмож- ности, предоставляемые данными методологическими ориента- циями для рассмотрения элиты в современных условиях разви- тия российского общества.

The paper dwells on studying one of the most important processes defining the quality potential of the modern elite – recruiting elite groups. The political elite recruiting peculiarities defining this process, social factors and mechanisms are revealed. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the basic stages of the political elite recruiting at the regional level: Stage I – “quasi-free convergence” (1991–1993); Stage II – mutational (1994–2000); Stage III – “elite controlled recruiting” (2001–2011); Stage IV – mixed (hybrid) (2012 – present time).

The article discusses the features and possibilities of applying an integral-critical approach to the study of elite groups in general and the political elite in particular. The characteristic of reputational and decision-making (decision) methods, positional (institutional, formal) and value-based (meritocratic) methodological approaches often used in the past is given.