Federalism and Local Politics in Russia (Basees Routledge Series on Russian and East European Studies)

This book examines federalism and regional and local politics in Russia. Many commentators have alluded to the unique nature of Russia's dual transition and its difficult task of simultaneously reforming its economy and polity. But there is in fact a third transition under way in Russia that is of no less importance, the need to reconfigure central-local relations and to create a stable and viable form of federalism. Federal states are much more difficult to set up than unitary ones, and forging a new federal system at the same time as privatising the economy and trying to radically overhaul the political system has clearly made Russia's transition triply difficult. The book discusses how Vladimir Putin has re-asserted the power of the centre in Russia, and tightened the federal government's control of the regions. It shows how, contrary to his rhetoric about developing Russia as a free and democratic state, authoritarianism has been extended - through his reorganisation of the Federation Council, his usurpation of powers to dismiss regional assemblies and chief executives, and his creation of seven unelected super-governors. The book explores a wide range of issues related to these developments, including a comparative study of Russian federalism and local politics, ethnic federalism, the merging of federal units, regional governors, electoral and party reforms, and regional and local politics. It also includes case studies of local and regional politics in specific regions. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 8 Copyright......Page 9 Contents......Page 10 Illustrations......Page 12 List of contributors......Page 13 Abbreviations......Page 14 Preface......Page 15 Acknowledgements......Page 17 1 Leviathan’s return: The policy of recentralization in contemporary Russia......Page 18 2 Between a rock and a hard place: The Russian Federation in comparative perspective......Page 42 3 Federal discourses, minority rights, and conflict transformation......Page 71 4 Unification as a political project: The case of Permskii Krai......Page 99 5 Putin and the election of regional governors......Page 123 6 Electoral reforms and democratization: Russian regional elections 2003–2006......Page 137 7 Russian political parties and regional political processes: The problem of effective representation......Page 167 8 The representation of business elites in regional politics: Etatism, elitism, and clientelism......Page 201 9 The struggle for power in the Urals......Page 224 10 Local self-government in Russia: Between decentralization and recentralization......Page 244 11 Russia’s elusive pursuit of balance in local government reform......Page 265 12 Vertical or triangle? Local, regional and federal government in the Russian Federation after Law 131......Page 280 13 Municipal elections and electoral authoritarianism under Putin......Page 301 Index......Page 322 With Articles By A High Quality Set Of Contributors Including Darrell Slider And Vladimir Gel'man, This Title Explores The Increasingly Authoritarian Character Of Putin's Rule, Especially In His Second Term Since 2004. 1. Leviathan's Return: The Policy Of Recentralization In Contemporary Russia / Vladimir Gel'man -- 2. Between A Rock And A Hard Place: The Russian Federation In Comparative Perspective / Michael Burgess -- 3. Federal Discourses, Minority Rights, And Conflict Transformation / Andreas Heinemann-grüder -- 4. Unification As A Political Project: The Case Of Permskii Krai / Oksana Oracheva -- 5. Putin And The Election Of Regional Governors / Darrell Slider -- 6. Electoral Reforms And Democratization: Russian Regional Elections 2003-2006 / Aleksandr Kynev -- 7. Russian Political Parties And Regional Political Processes: The Problem Of Effective Representation / Petr Panov. Edited By Cameron Ross And Adrian Campbell. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Explores the authoritarian character of Putin's rule, especially in his second term since 2004. Examining the tightening of the control of the federal government over the regions during the Putin era, this book shows how, contrary to his rhetoric about developing Russia as a free and democratic state, authoritarianism has been extended. With articles by a high quality set of contributors, including Richard Sakwa, Darrell Slider and Vladimir Gel'man, this book explores the increasingly authoritarian character of Putin's rule, especially in his second term since 2004. This book explores urban democracy in Russia, considering a wide range of cities of different types, and different political allegiances. Exploring urban democracy in Russia, this text considers a wide range of cities of different types, and different political allegiances