Description
This comprehensive study of local politics in Russia shows that the key reforms of local government, and the struggle to forge viable grassroots democracies have been inextricably linked to the wider struggle for power between the regions and the Kremlin, and to the specific nature of Russia窶冱 highly politicized and negotiated form of asymmetrical federalism. During the Yeltsin era all attempts to create a universal and uniform system of local-self-government in the federation were a failure. Under the protection of their constitutions and charters, and the extra-constitutional rights and powers granted to them in special bilateral treaties, regional leaders, particularly in Russia窶冱 21 ethnic republics were able to instigate highly authoritarian regimes and to thwart the implementation key local government reforms. Thus, by the end of the Yeltsin era the number of municipalities, their type, status and powers, varied tremendously from region to region. Putin窶冱 local government reforms also need to be viewed as an integral component of his wider centralizing political agenda, and his assault on the principles and practices of federalism. With the instigation of his 窶賄ictatorship of law窶� and 窶湾ower vertical窶�, Putin has thwarted the development of grassroots democracy and overseen the creation of local 窶脇lectoral authoritarian窶� regimes. Putin窶冱 new system of local self-government marks a victory for the proponents of the 窶�statist concept窶� of local self-government over those who championed the 窶�societal concept窶�, codified in Article 12 of the Russian Constitution. Overall, this book is an important resource for anyone seeking to understand politics in Putin窶冱 Russia.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction 2. Russian Federalism and Local Politics 3. Local Government in the USSR 4. Local Government Reform under Yeltsin 5. Local Government Reform and Putin窶冱 Power Vertical 6. Fiscal Federalism and Local Budget Revenues 7. Fiscal Federalism and Local Budget Expenditures 8. Local Elections and Parties 9. Local and Regional Executives 10. 窶櫓lectoral Authoritarianism窶� and Putin窶冱 窶櫓lectoral Vertical.窶� Conclusion
