Consequences of Informal Autonomy

The book investigates the interplay of formal and informal institutions of the Russian federalism. It describes the evolution of these institutions in the last two decades and shows their persistence. Using large-N analysis, it concludes that informal autonomy in Russia leads to the consolidation of sub-national autocracies.

The book is the first to provide a systematic overview of the interplay of formal and informal institutions as elements of the Russian federalism from the early 1990s to the mid-2010s. It discusses the crucial role of informal power structures and practices in the relations between the center and the regions in Russia, which survived the centralization policy of the Putin government. Using econometric large-N analysis and a set of novel quantitative indicators, the book shows that persistence of informal autonomy in Russia has mostly harmful consequences for the political development of the regions, contributing to the consolidation and strengthening of sub-national autocracies.

Autorentext

Alexander Libman is an Associate at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs SWP. His research focuses on sub-national politics and regionalism in Eurasia.

Inhalt

Contents: Investigation of formal and informal institutions of the Russian federalism - Persistence of informal institutions in spite of the centralization tendencies - Informal institutions as factors supporting the formation of sub-national authoritarian regimes.