Social contract: What and who determines the face of socio-economic development of modern Russia

The article analyzes the state of the social contract in modern Russia, reveals the objective foundations of its existence, as well as social factors that represent the main subjects – the state represented by political power and society, which is represented in that context by the economically active population. A comparison of the main economic indicators with foreign countries is given, and the state of the national economy is characterized from the point of view of its compliance with the ongoing 4th and upcoming 5th industrial revolution. Particular attention is paid to answering the question of who determines the face of modern Russian society. The author comes to the conclusion that the decisive role is increasingly played by such a social community/class as the precariat, the number of which is constantly increasing. Based on statistical and sociological data, it is concluded that at present the concept of “social contract” is the most important theoretical and applied construct for the analysis and explanation of the evolutionary or revolutionary development of the state and society. An important component of the compliance and consent of the main subjects of the social contract is the search for an answer to the question – is the balance of power and balance of interests ensured, which begins with labor relations and ends with social, political and cultural aspects of life. That balance exactly shows how effectively and rationally the feedback is established, which indicates, if there is a social contract in place between the authorities and the people in all its diversity and complexity. Figuratively speaking, is there a social glue that provides the necessary trust and support of the majority or a significant number of people to ensure the sustainability of the existing state and society, their functioning and further development. It is such an approach that ensures the successful solution for the problems of a sovereign economy, which presupposes mutual responsibility of its participants, the degree of involvement and effective interaction in the implementation of the prospects for the development of Russian society.

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