Tev D.B. Regional deputy corps of the CPRF: dynamics of recruitment channels. Politeia. 2026. No. 2 (121). P. 152-174. DOI: 10.30570 ...

Текст статьи на сайте журнала URL: http://politeia.ru/files/articles/rus/Politeia-2026-2(121)-Pages-001-208-152-174.pdf (дата обращения 21.08.2026)

Abstract

This article examines the dynamics of recruitment channels within the regional deputy corps of the Communist Party of the Russian Fede ration (CPRF). The empirical basis of the study consists of two biographical datasets containing information on deputies of the communist factions in the legislative bodies of the regions of the Russian Federation as of January 2011 and May 2025. The analysis yields several key findings. First, the embeddedness of CPRF deputies in the political nomenklatura of the Soviet society has substan tially weakened, largely due to the natural turnover of older cadres. Second, one of the most significant trends is the growing prevalence among deputies of the legislative experience from the regional and local levels, which is like ly associated with the increasing partisanization of elections and legislatures (by contrast, the share of deputies who previously served in the State Duma declined to a minimum). Third, in terms of career, the regional legislative corps of the CPRF is still remarkably separated from the administrative ap paratus, with the bureaucracy playing only a minor role as a direct source of deputies. Fourth, the legislative elite of the CPRF demonstrates a persistent degree of plutocratization: while the proportion of deputies directly originating from business has changed little, the presence within party factions of indivi duals with experience in key positions in the commercial sector at various sta ges of their careers has increased, largely reflecting the entry into legislatures of individuals who built their careers under market economic conditions. Overall, although the personal composition of CPRF factions has undergone renewal, several important recruitment patterns display continuity, indicating the insti tutionalization of the party’s legislative elite. At the same time, notable shifts are evident in the socio-professional background of deputies, driven by a range of factors, including changes in the structure of political opportunities.