The order built on the basis of the Leader-Arbiter mechanism leads to the personification ofpower. This mechanism of rule has made it easier to carry out market reforms and to resolveconflicts between influential groups. At the same time, however, it has become a seriousobstacle to developing solid democratic institutions and transparent politics, leading to theformation of networks of informal ties and “shadow rules of the game” rather than a politicalsystem based on clear rules and the separation of powers

On several occasions, Yeltsin has declared various people (Boris Nemtsov,Viktor Chernomyrdin, Vladimir Putin) to be his successor, and these statements have beenseen as legitimate by the Russian establishment, demonstrating once again that monarchicalideas are alive and well in Russian political circles. A second significant factor was the need tocarry out radical economic reforms and to avert economic collapse, which required strongexecutive power and narrowed the possibilities for working out consensus decisions,especially since the reformers had little support in society. Third, it must be kept in mind thatRussia needed to establish the foundations of a new state, which also requires a strong leader.With society fragmented and political groups constantly fighting among themselves, a strongpresidency came to be seen as the embodiment and symbol of national unity for the newRussia