Municipal power: motivation of actorsand practices of interactionwith regional authoritiesa. Power and Elites

Abstract

The article presents the outcomes of empirical research conducted in 3 small Russian towns and 2 districts in 2011–2015 and 2018. The analysis is based on in-depth interviews with the leadership of local and regional governments in three Russian regions. 76 interviews were conducted in 2011–2015, as well as 40 repeated interviews in 2018 in 2 communities previously included in the sample. The study shows that the quality of municipal government and the motivation of local actors, according to our respondents, are mainly medium or low, which is largely due to the current system of incentives set by the federal center and regional elites. The lack of initiative and interest in the activity “from below” give rise to an exclusively performing style of the daily activities of regional elites, while the psychology of “waiting for outside help” is intensified in the absence of financial resources. However, the diversity of existing patterns of interaction between municipal and regional authorities allows us to conclude, that attempts to unify the governmental process on the territories is doomed to failure. The article presents the outcomes of empirical researchconducted in 3 small Russian towns and 2 districts in 2011–2015 and 2018.The analysis is based on in-depth interviews with the leadership of local andregional governments in three Russian regions. 76 interviews were conductedin 2011–2015, as well as 40 repeated interviews in 2018 in 2 communitiespreviously included in the sample.The study shows that the quality of municipal government and themotivation of local actors, according to our respondents, are mainly mediumor low, which is largely due to the current system of incentives set by thefederal center and regional elites. The lack of initiative and interest in theactivity “from below” give rise to an exclusively performing style of the dailyactivities of regional elites, while the psychology of “waiting for outside help”is intensified in the absence of financial resources. However, the diversity ofexisting patterns of interaction between municipal and regional authoritiesallows us to conclude, that attempts to unify the governmental process on theterritories is doomed to failure.

Content (in russ)