RUSSIAN LEFT-WING RADICALS ARE LOSING: WHY THERE WILL BE NEITHER SYRIZA, NOR PODEMOS IN RUSSIA

The goal of this article is to draw a comparison between the Russian radical left parties in and their European counterparts and to offer projections for their future transformation. Based on comparative research methodology, the article investigates the inception and development of the radical left parties and organizations in Russia. In Russia, the radical left parties are represented by three main groups: communist fundamentalists, libertarian communists and socialists and hybrid organizations. The rise of the left radical organizations was instigated by the mass protests of 2011-2012. This time frame coincides with the period when the European radical left parties were experiencing election successes, most notably in Greece and Spain. However, the Russian radical left parties face two major limitations unknown to their Western colleagues: the dominance of paleo-Stalinism and political repressions. The authors conclude that without removing these limitations, the radical left parties in Russia will be incapable to overcome their current crisis