The article addressestheissue of responsibility assumed by Russia’s political establishment for the outcomes of the social and economic changes in the country. A retrospective journey into the history of social relationsalong with an investigation into the evolution of the concept of responsibilitybrings the author to the conclusion that the form of government and political regimeplaced under the responsibility of the political elite determines the accessibility of social benefits to Man as the main resource of power. This in its turn clearly indicates the level of social responsibility achieved by the elite groups, which sets the focus of the article on eliciting the political and social conditions that facilitate fostering the social responsibility of Russia’s politicalestablishment making it a powerful impetus towards social transformations. The author presents an integrated view of the notion of responsibility based on historical, philosophical, political and sociological considerations. They define the long - standingas well as modern mechanisms of responsibility conditioned by the mutual obligations of the society and the powers: traditional, rational - legitimate, intra - elite, and specify the circumstances of their successful implementation. Inconclusion the authorout lines the prospects of the problem research that they see in seeking for ways of setting the above conditions indispensable for turning the social responsibility of the political elite into an impetus towards positive changes.
