Tikhonova N.E. Social Policy in Modern Russia: New Selective Challenges. Social Sciences and Contemporary World, 2019, Issue 3, pp. 20-35.

Abstract

The article, which is the second part of a block of two (the first article was published in the previous issue of the journal), presents an analysis of some of the challenges that Russian social policy currently face, based on the data from nationwide surveys. However, the first article was focused on systemic challenges, while in this article the subject of analysis is a few selective challenges affecting specific spheres of life in Russian society. Based on the empirical data of the Institute of Sociology FCTAS RAS, it is shown that one of the key challenges is the need to develop new framework for interactions between employers and employees; it is noted that the asymmetry of these relations has sharply increased during the last two economic crises. The situation with the public perception of the access to necessary medical care and its quality is analyzed; it is shown that these problems also become the important challenges for the state social policy. The challenges associated with decrease in investments in their own human potential and human potential of their children by the population, as well as housing deprivation of the population, the formation of a new underclass in rural areas, etc., are also analyzed. It is noted that further successful and sustainable development of Russia requires development of an adequate response not only to these, but also to many other challenges.