Conditions of (Dis)Loyalty of Elites to the State Authorities in Russia

Introduction. The article examines the conditions of relatively high/low loyalty of ‘subordinates’ (subjects of loyalty) to ‘superiors’ (objects of loyalty) in various institutional contexts. Loyalty is considered as a variable that includes different levels of support or challenge by subordinates to the authority of their superiors. Based on the Neoveberian approach, there has been put forward a hypothesis about the factors that strengthen loyalty: the stronger the authority ensures the basic social needs of subordinates – security, social status and income – the higher their loyalty.

Methodology and sources. The conditions of loyalty are studied by comparing contrasting cases of high (Ostsee knighthood (Baltic knighthoods), Siberian and later Don Cossacks, Belarusian late Soviet elite) and low loyalty (Yaik and early Don Cossacks, early Georgian aristocracy, Lithuanian late Soviet elite).

Results and discussion. Basic social needs are satisfied by three structures: a) hierarchical military and civil-bureaucratic institutions; b) patron-client networks; c) self-governing egalitarian communities. Socialization in the military-bureaucratic institutions of the civil service provides a relatively high level of loyalty to state power and is most preferred by the elites. Elite representatives` preference for patron-client networks and egalitarian communities is caused by the costs of military-bureaucratic institutions, in particular, a shortage of prestigious positions. The prestigious consumption as a demonstration of high status, maintaining an acceptable level of well-being, prestige and security acceptable after retirement/in addition to salary reduce these costs.

Conclusion. The higher the level of subjects' loyalty to the objects of loyalty, the shorter the period of stay in prestigious positions, the higher the cultural, social, and linguistic distance between the subjects of loyalty and the social environment, and the level of influence, power, and wealth of individual subjects of loyalty is significantly lower than that of the object of loyalty.

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