Description
Book SynopsisThis 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's 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's 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's local government refo
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’s 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. ‘Electoral Authoritarianism’ and Putin’s ‘Electoral Vertical.’ Conclusion
