The role of the United Russia in political system of the Russian Federation

With the beginning of new millennium the political atmosphere in Russia started to change significantly. The number of political parties dramatically decreased and in 2001 was formed soon to be strongest party - the United Russia. Since then the overall centralization of the system had started - it happened to be more difficult for smaller parties to reach the Duma mandates, media are influenced more than before and NGOs with certain political opinions are forbidden to operate. In this environment exists the United Russia - the party of power - not a platform for discussion, which a political party should be, but a tool of Kremlin, which reminds more a center of elites, power and means. In the beginning of the text are described competitive and non-competitive party systems. The current party system of Russia is there acknowledged as a party system with pragmatic- hegemonic party. Further the text follows the evolution and changes of the party system in Russia, the electoral reforms and overall changes since 1999 to the present. Then the ideology of Russia in international environment is discussed as well as the ideology of the United Russia. The text shows, that even though the United Russia declares an ideology, in reality it could be found only scarcely