№ 6 - 2001
Gelman V.Ya.
“Encounter with an Iceberg”: Concept Formation and Misformation in the Study of Russian Politics

The article raises methodological problems of the study of modern Russian politics. With a number of foreign and Russian authors’ publications, critically analyzed, as example, the author demonstrates «conceptual stretches» inherent in some approaches, that spring from different causes dwelling both within and without science. To aggravate inadequate usage of existing theoretical concepts as well as confusion of levels of abstraction, there are, else, normative bias in political-scientific analysis and logical contradictions in the construction of theories. The article contains certain recommendations aimed at a theoretically consistent, empirically demonstrative and value-neutral position to be formed, in the study of Russian politics in a theoretical and comparative perspective.