Zuyeva O.V. Public Trust as a Management Construct: Symbolic Functions and Real Effectiveness of Departmental Monitoring in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/lp.jvolsu.2026.1.4
Olga V. Zuyeva
Candidate of Sciences (Sociology), Associate Professor, Head of theDepartment of Humanities and Social and Economic Disciplines, Sukharev Moscow Academy of the Investigative Committee
Vrubelya St, 12, 125080 Moscow, Russian Federation
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https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1727-7279
Abstract. The article is devoted to a critical analysis of departmental monitoring of public opinion in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Based on comparative and discourse analysis of regulatory documents, as well as secondary analysis of departmental and independent sociological research data (from the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion and the Public Opinion Foundation), it is proved that the monitoring system functions primarily as a management construct with a dominant symbolic function. It has been established that the purpose of the system is to demonstrate formal accountability and create the appearance of taking into account the opinions of citizens rather than obtaining objective data for management decisions. Empirical data reveal a persistent discrepancy between high confidence rates in departmental reports (up to 90–95% at the regional level) and significantly lower estimates from independent studies. At the macro level, the VCIOM and FOM data, although more objective, capture a generalized, forced-loyalty attitude rather than a belief in the real effectiveness of the police. A set of systemic barriers has been identified that limit the real effectiveness of monitoring: organizational and personnel shortages (lack of full-time sociologists and data collection by non-core employees), methodological limitations of tools (superficial formulations that do not identify the causes of trust/distrust), and a managerial and cultural gap (focus on formal reporting rather than using data for decision-making). These problems lead to the ritualization of information collection and the systematic overestimation of indicators. The author concludes that the institutionalization of monitoring has not overcome the inherited focus on controlling public opinion. The symbolic function of demonstrating legitimacy prevails over the managerial one, which undermines trust as a real resource for the legitimacy of the police. In order to increase efficiency, measures are proposed related to the elimination of personnel shortages, overcoming methodological limitations and the formation of a management culture focused on the obtained sociological data.
Key words: public trust, police, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, monitoring of public opinion, symbolic policy, management construct, legitimacy.
Citation. Zuyeva O.V. Public Trust as a Management Construct: Symbolic Functions and Real Effectiveness of Departmental Monitoring in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Logos et Praxis, 2026, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 38-48. (in Russian). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/lp.jvolsu.2026.1.4
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