Which group has dominated Russia's politics throughout most of its history?

There have been ups and downs. During the Tsarist era, the church was a state institution, and it was regulated by both Peter the Great and Catherine the Great.

The Communists separated Church and State; the few remaining churches that were permitted to continue operating frequently had covert ties to the KGB. The Church was so thoroughly destroyed that there were only 500 churches left in Russia. Many clerics were executed, and the majority of the remaining clergy were sent to the Gulag.

After a recent period of recovery, the Church is once more a powerful force in Russian society.

The Russian Orthodox Church has undergone a messy reunification after being suppressed and isolated during the Communist era in Russia, leaving distinct branches in America and other countries.

Throughout most of its history, Russia's politics have been dominated by authoritarian rulers or regimes. These rulers often came from the monarchy or autocracy, where power was centralized in the hands of the tsar or emperor. The dominance of the monarchy persisted until the Russian Revolution of 1917, which led to the overthrow of the Tsarist regime and the establishment of the Soviet Union. Under the Soviet regime, the Communist Party, led by figures such as Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, held significant control over Russia's politics for much of the 20th century. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia transitioned to a democratic system, but power remained concentrated in the hands of political elites, particularly under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin and his United Russia party. Thus, throughout much of its history, Russia's politics have been characterized by the dominance of authoritarian rulers, monarchs, or political parties.