Charismatic Leadership as a Factor in the Institutionalization of Populism (on the Example of V.V. Zhirinovsky and the LDPR Party)

Abstract to the Graduation qualification work on the direction of training 41.03.04 Political Science student of group BPT-211 (educational program “Political Science”) Subject: “Charismatic leadership as a factor of populism institutionalization (on the example of V.V.Zhirinovsky and LDPR party)”. Student - Avdeeva Evelina Supervisor - Leonid Vladimirovich Polyakov The graduate qualification work consists of an introduction, 4 chapters, conclusion and list of references. The subject of the study is the charismatic leadership of V.V. Zhirinovsky as a factor of institutionalization. Zhirinovsky as a factor of institutionalization of populism in the Russian political system in the period from 1991 to 2022. The purpose of the study is to comprehensively analyze the role of V.V. Zhirinovsky's charismatic leadership in the process of institutionalization of populism in the Russian political system from 1991 to 2022. Zhirinovsky in the process of institutionalization of populism on the example of LDPR by studying the evolution of the party's political platform and its functioning in the Russian political system. The purpose of the study will be achieved by solving the following tasks: 1. Analyze theoretical approaches to the study of charismatic leadership and populism, assess their applicability to the Russian political context. 2. To study the political biography of V.V. Zhirinovsky with a focus on the key moments of the formation of his charismatic leadership. 3. To conduct a comparative analysis of the political platform of the LDPR in the parliamentary elections of 1993-2021, to identify the basic ideological principles and their adaptation to changing political conditions. 4. To determine the specific function of the LDPR in the Russian party system and the role of V.V. Zhirinovsky's charismatic leadership in determining this function. Zhirinovsky in determining this function. 5. To conduct a conceptual analysis of the contradiction between the nominal liberal-democratic platform and the actual right-populist practice of the party. In the course of the research the methodology used was: qualitative content analysis The empirical base of the research consists of: - Videotapes and transcripts of speeches of V.V. Zhirinovsky's speeches in the State Duma - Materials of TV debates and interviews - LDPR program documents of different years - LDPR election materials for the 1993-2021 parliamentary elections. - Publications in the mass media about the activities of V.V. Zhirinovsky and the LDPR. Zhirinovsky and the LDPR - Memoirs and autobiographical materials by V.V. Zhirinovsky. Zhirinovsky - Data on electoral support for the LDPR in the 1993-2021 parliamentary elections. The first chapter is devoted to the theoretical foundations of the study of charismatic leadership and populism. The second chapter focuses on the political biography of V.V. Zhirinovsky as a charismatic leader. Zhirinovsky as a charismatic leader. The third chapter explores the evolution of the political platform of the LDPR under the leadership of V.V. Zhirinovsky. Zhirinovsky. The fourth chapter is devoted to the role of the LDPR in the Russian party system and the significance of charismatic leadership in the institutionalization of populism. The preliminary results of the study suggest that the charismatic leadership of V.V. Zhirinovsky has become a key factor in the institutionalization of populism. Zhirinovsky became the key factor of LDPR institutionalization in the Russian political system. The phenomenon of his leadership was based on a unique combination of vivid political rhetoric, a deep understanding of the social and psychological demands of the electorate, and the ability to adapt the party's political program to changing conditions while maintaining the basic ideological principles.