Abstract
Introduction: most studies on authority and governing in Russian municipalities is focused on the executive branch while the representative power issues get lessexpert attention. Objectives: to identify the main groups of deputies of municipal representative bodies. Methods: the article presents some results of an empirical study of local authorities conducted in 66 municipalities of three Russian regions: Sverdlovsk Oblast, Perm Krai and Kirov Oblast. An in-depth study of the public administration system at the local level was carried out in seven municipalities. These are Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Kushva, Sredneuralsk in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Kungur, Chusovoy, Ocher in Perm Krai and Kirovo-Chepetsk in Kirov Oblast. The main method of collecting information is expert interviews (N=10). Results: the following groups of deputies of municipal representative bodies were identified: “lobbyists”, “resource-holders”, “experts”, and “extras”. Conclusions: groups of municipal deputies differ by a number of parameters, but the most important being the differences in their degree of independence, their affiliation and the view of their own role in the municipal representative body. Municipal administrations and heads of municipalities personally have a high level of control over the extras − the deputies who are the agents of their policy in municipal representative bodies.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call