SURVEYING ATTITUDES IN RUSSIA - A REPRESENTATION OF FORMLESSNESS

This article examines the expanding body of Western research focusing on Russian political culture. As Russia emerges from its authoritarian past, the political transition enveloping the country carries importa nt significance for the study of political development in ''post-autho ritarian'' societies. Upon finding a ''formless'' representation of Ru ssian political culture in survey results, this article raises questio ns about the use of quantitative surveys to examine this topic in a so ciety still in flux, The article concludes with a brief recommendation for an alternative approach to political culture research in Russia. (C) 1997 The Regents of the University of California.