Social Policy in Russia: Promises and Reality

Abstract

The Constitution of the Russian Federation in 1993 proclaimed our country a social state. “The Russian Federation is a social state,” says Article 7 of the Basic Law, “whose policy is aimed at creating conditions for a decent life ...” The Constitution implies that the main goal of a social state is to create conditions that ensure a decent life for all citizens. In addition, the social state, according to the Constitution, is obliged to direct its activities towards the free development of a person, the provision of guarantees for the social protection of the population, and the development of the social sphere. In Russia in the past two decades, certain attempts have been made to create conditions for improving the lives of citizens. The state has formed a general concept, main directions and priorities of social policy, has created a legislative basis for their implementation. However, the presence in the country of 20 million citizens who are below the poverty line, other arguments and facts show that the political leadership, the government has failed to provide with conditions for a decent life for Russians. Keywords—social policy; promises of power; reality