Authors

Discussion

This paper examines the emergence and role of New People (Novye Lyudi), a party founded in 2020 and now widely regarded as part of Russia's "systemic opposition." While often described as a Kremlin-sponsored project, the party has nonetheless articulated a distinct programmatic profile, calling for market-oriented reforms, reduced administrative burdens, and greater political competition. Its dual positioning—as both a managed actor within the system and a bearer of reformist rhetoric—makes it an important case for understanding how electoral authoritarian regimes incorporate, and limit, elements of opposition.

The analysis primarily focuses on the supply side: the party's programmatic commitments, legislative behavior, and institutional positioning. New People consistently advances pro-business and decentralisation agendas, while generally supporting core government initiatives such as budget legislation. At the same time, it has selectively differentiated itself by occasionally abstaining from or opposing restrictive policies and regulations. These rare and calculated instances of dissent remain confined to issues where symbolic differentiation is possible without direct confrontation, reflecting a strategy of calibrated compliance combined with limited dissent.

Where relevant, the paper also considers electoral outcomes as a supplementary dimension. Results from the 2021 State Duma election and the 2024 presidential election show that the party has gained measurable support in some urban areas, suggesting that it draws backing from segments of disaffected voters that existing systemic opposition parties have found difficult to capture. These patterns highlight the potential of New People as a channel for protest voting within the boundaries of managed pluralism.

Conceptually, the paper refines existing accounts of systemic opposition under authoritarianism. It shows that regime durability can be reinforced not only by expanding the number of tolerated parties but also by incorporating actors that signal reformist agendas while staying firmly within systemic boundaries. The case of New People illustrates how "reform-packaging" within the system stabilises authoritarian rule by offering an outlet for limited dissent while preserving control.