The Institute of Contemporary Development presented its analytical report “Democracy: Development of the Russian Model”.  Initial drafts of this report and were first discussed at the Institute in June, following which the comments and criticism of experts participating in the discussion were taken into consideration in drafting the final report.
 
The report is devoted to the most topical problems in Russia’s development – analysis of the current condition of Russian political institutions and their approach to development of a Russian model for the development of democracy in terms of the long-term plans for modernization of the country.
 
Participants in the discussion of the final report included, INSOR Management Chairman Igor Yurgens, Chairman of the Council for National Strategy Dr. Iosif Diskin, journalist and Public Chamber member Nikolai Svanidze, co-chairs of the political party “Pravoe Delo” Leonid Gozman and Georgy Bovt, State Duma deputies, academics political scientist as well as representatives of mass media and NGOs.
 
When presenting the report, Igor Yurgens noted that document shares many ideas presented in President Medvedev’s national address both in terms of the conceptual understanding of the problems of the development of democracy and in the analysis of specific institutional problems.  “The President of Russia called democracy one of the fundamental norms of our life.  The main issue is how to fill out this norm with real substance and make it effective.  This report highlights the main problems for the development of democracy and suggestions it own solutions,” Yurgens said.  
 
Director for Public and Political Development Problems Boris Makarenko presented the report, in which experts analyzed the Russian model of democracy, explaining its fundamental basis as well as Russian specifics. The experts assessed the Russian political system and considered possible scenarios for its development.
 
During the discussion it became apparent that the experts present had diverging opinions on the key audience of the report.  Ruslan Grinberg, Director of the Institute of Economics and a Member of INSOR’s Management of Board, said that the report should first and foremost be directed toward the public at large: “It is critical to explain to people that democracy means an improvement of life.”  Co-chair of the political part “Pravoe Delo” Leonid Gozman has a different opinion, believing that the need for establishing a democracy must first be appreciated by a certain segment of the political elite.
 
Dr. Iosif Diskin, Chairman of the Council for National Strategy, responded positively to the final draft of the report, noting that it is a serious piece of analysis addressing the critical issue of the specifics of Russian democracy.
 
Other experts were practically unanimous in calling the report a very timely and topical document.  It was noted that the importance of democracy always always comes to the forefront during times of crisis.  Georgy Bovt, co-chair of “Pravoe Delo”, emphasized the today their is a demand for democracy among the populace, suggesting the revolutionary measures of an institutional nature are needed.
 
Summing up the discussion, Boris Makarenko noted that in the final version of the report would reflect input provided during this discussion.