Chirikova A., Ledyaev V. Leadership and Power in a small russian Town: Vectors of Change. Vlast' i elity [Power and Elites], 2019, Vol. 6 (1), p. 216-238.

Abstract

The paper presents the outcomes of a research project conducted in two small towns in Ivanovo region. The basic material was obtained in the course Конфигурация основных акторов в малом российском городе... 238 of 76 in-depth face to face interviews with representatives of local and regional elites. The focus of the study is the dynamics of power relations and leadership. The outcomes of the study show that the patterns of power in both local communities are largely preserved, but there have also been some changes. The main sources of changes are the new governor and personnel shifts in the leadership of the towns. In Shuya, the most important event was the return of the former head of the town dismissed by the previous governor. However, she currently does not have a reputation of the most influential actor. In Kineshma, the power hierarchy, in which the head of the town administration was not assigned a central place due to the frequent changes in the municipal leadership, remained 4 years later. The low personal resources of the leaders of the executive branch in both towns increased intervention by the governor and members of his team in community affairs to compensate for the inefficient activities of the municipal structures.