The Right to Form Associations Enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation as a Form of Political Participation (the Case of Trade Unions)

The article discusses the implementation of the right to form trade unions as a form of political participation in contemporary Russian society. The right to form associations is enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation and is a conventional form of political participation. The author indicated methodological aspects of this problem through the prism of the concept of “professional interest” viewed as a desire of individuals to secure oneself against possible difficulties in the process of professional self-realization in the system of labor law relations or professional activity. Joining a trade union has a rational basis, because such behavior is thought to ensure an “effective result” – restoration of the violated right, assistance in realization of the right, etc. Another important methodological point is related to the consideration of cultural factors that do not determine political participation, although they are stable over time and related to other factors. Political culture is a reflection of the current political system. This area of concern reveals grounds and contradictions that determine the existing behavioral attitudes towards consensual political participation through joining trade unions.