Network governance: A tool for understanding Russian policy-making?

In this project a team of Norwegian, Russian, German, Finnish and British researchers apply network governance theory as an analytical tool to study federal, regional and local policy-making processes in Russia. Through directing our attention towards the complex interplay of state and non-state actors at multiple levels of governance, we have contributed to a broadening of the understanding of Russian policy-making. Three policy fields were selected that were considered to be particularly apt for the study: migration/integration, child protection, and drug policy/HIV prevention. Empirical data collection was carried out in St. Petersburg and Samara. The following methods were used: policy document analyses, media discourse analyses, explorative and semi-structured individual and group interviews. We sought to provide answers to four main research questions: i. To what extent are different types of non-state actors involved in the process of governance? ii. What is the relationship between network governance and governance by hierarchy in Russian federal, regional and local government? iii. Is there a special or unique form of network governance in Russia? iv. What are the implications of network governance for policy outcomes? The application of the 'network governance' as an analystical framework leads us away from a common stereotypical picture of Russian civil society and state-society relationships. Unlike in many previous analyses, instead of the so-called zero-sum game between the state and civil society, the network governance approach leaves more room for understanding advantages (and disadvantages) of state-society collaboration and for possible impact of civil society actors in such collaborative settings. The project has resulted in a large number of scientific publications and conference papers. The most important are a symposium in East European Politics, a special section in Demokratizatsiya and a book contract that has been signed with Palgrave.

In this project a team of Norwegian, Russian, German, Finnish and British researchers will apply network governance theory as an analytical tool to study federal, regional and local policy-making processes in Russia. Network governance is based on the th eoretical assumption that the complexity of contemporary policy issues requires new ways of policy-making. It entails moving away from direct top-down formal government to processes and practices where public, semi-public and private resources and actors come together to pursue common goals. This project is novel in that it will apply the theory, which has been developed in the West, in a Russian setting. Through directing our attention towards the complex interplay of state and non-state actors at multip le levels of governance, we expect to contribute to a broadening of the understanding of Russian policy-making. Three policy fields have been selected that are considered to be particularly apt for the study: migration/integration, child protection, an d drug policy/HIV prevention. Case study methodology using both 'process-tracing' and 'pattern-mapping' will be applied. Empirical data collection will be carried out in Moscow (federal level), St. Petersburg city and Samara oblast' (regional level), and a St. Petersburg city rayon and Samara city (local level). Data triangulation will be applied through policy document analyses, media discourse analyses, explorative and semi-structured individual and group interviews, and surveys of public attitudes. We will seek to provide answers to four main research questions: i. To what extent are different types of non-state actors involved in the process of governance? ii. What is the relationship between network governance and governance by hierarchy in Russian federal, regional and local government? iii. Is there a special or unique form of network governance in Russia? iv. What are the implications of network governance for policy outcomes?