Mikhail K. Gorshkov

The article presents a multidimensional contextual analysis of the results of the fourth wave (March 2016) of the national sociological monitoring of the status and dynamics of the Russian society in the new reality, mediated by external and internal threats and risks augmented by the current economic crisis. The socio-psychological dynamics of Russian society is assessed during the analyzed period. Deterioration of the mass evaluation of the 2015 to 2016 changes is ascertained resulting from unmet expectations of the population for easing the crisis. However, this shift to pessimistic estimates is far from 1998 indices. Special attention is given by the author to the adaptive capacity deployed by the population. The basic adaptation strategy by the population in 2016 are savings, – far beyond exclusively consumer spending widely affecting investment in human capital. Diagnosed is systemic change in the relations between employers and employees with the shift of balance of power in the relationship towards more powerless position of employees. Stability and variability of ideological orientations and life priorities of Russians are analyzed as well as the resources for social integration in a poly-ethnic and religious space.