In the Netgovru project a team of Norwegian, Russian, German, Finnish and British researchers applies network governance theory as an analytical tool to study federal, regional and local policy-making processes in Russia.
We study the interplay between the state and non-state actors in policy making and policy implementation in Russian regions. We question the widely held notion of Russian exceptionalism as regards state-society relations, and argue that the conceptual tools used to study governance in other regions and contexts can be useful also in studies of Russian politics. Formalised governance networks in the form of for example public chambers, consultative councils, private-public partnerships and cross-sectoral programmes are widespread in Russian regions.
Our contribution is based on studies of such concrete governance networks in three welfare policy areas (child welfare, HIV and drug prevention, and integration of migrants) in two Russian regions: Samara and St. Petersburg. In the project we have undertaken close to 100 semi-structured interviews with governance network participants (as well as with persons outside the networks) from the state and civil society, and also with academic and media experts. We have observed network events, and scrutinised Russian newspapers. Both regional and policy area differences have been identified, and the notion of the Russian state as a unitary actor is challenged.
The project has resulted in, among others, a symposium in East European Politics, a special section of the journal Democratizatsiya, and we are now working on a manuscript for a book to be published by Palgrave.