Women in Russian Politics

Valerii Tishkov This essay argues that the end or the weakening of the Soviet principle of 'nomenklatura' (male dominated bureaucratic power) has had almost no palpable effect on the level of representation by women in power structures or in the quantum of real power wielded by them. It tests this, hypothesis by information on the numerical presence of women in different echelons of the power edifice and their political aspiration. It concludes on a pessimistic note by pointing out that although women bring a distinctive leavening influence to bear on politics, the broader political and social structures to foster this are not visible yet.