Transitions Online has been putting out some great material on the Russian elections lately, including today’s article by Ilya Tarasov and Peter Rutland about United Russia: “But the party now faces an identity crisis of sorts. It was created by the Kremlin elite to gain control over the legislature and prevent it from interfering with the president’s agenda. That task completed, United Russia is at a loose end. In order to find a role in Russia’s evolving political system, United Russia must change from a “party of power” into a genuine ruling party. Otherwise, it will become irrelevant and even counterproductive for the political elite. It will fall prey to creeping bureaucratization and will become less attractive to its supporters. At the same time, if it continues as a party of power the legislature will become an even emptier shell, a mere extension of the presidential administration. The social-political forces that found expression through the electoral process will be driven elsewhere – onto the streets. The very image of a party of power is a liability, a reminder for the ordinary people that they are ruled by an elite.”