Transformation of recruitment mechanisms for the political and administrative elite in modern Russia: challenges and threats

Abstract

Introduction. The article is devoted to the study of the transformation of the mechanisms of recruitment of the political and administrative elite in modern Russia in the context of digitalization and geopolitical instability. The author focuses on the impact of digital technologies on social systems, emphasizing their role in optimizing management processes and adapting elites to new challenges (pandemics, geopolitical conflicts). Purpose. The purpose of the study is to analyze the evolution of elite recruitment channels and methods, assess their effectiveness in the context of digital transformation, and identify threats and prospects related to the integration of technologies (Big Data, artificial intelligence, blockchain) into the processes of forming the ruling class. Methods. The work uses comparative and theoretical analysis, systematic and historical approaches, sociological methods, as well as the analysis of empirical data and scientific concepts. Results. The dominance of traditional recruitment channels has been revealed: the state apparatus and the military-security unit. The strengthening of the role of digital tools was noted: contests and retraining programs, hybrid models, algorithmic personnel selection. It has been established that digitalization creates a bifurcation: it expands access to the elite, but increases the risks of cyber-attacks, fakes and data monopolization. Conclusions. The author concludes that there is a need for a balance between innovation and continuity. Measures are proposed for the stability of the system: the development of IT sovereignty, the introduction of meritocratic principles using Big Data, and the strengthening of media transparency of government. It is emphasized that the hybridization of elites (a symbiosis of administrative channels and digital tools) is becoming a key factor in adapting to global challenges. The research contributes to elitism by defining the prospects for studying the ethical aspects of the use of artificial intelligence and the long-term effects of digitalization of political processes.