The Russian State and the People

Russia's state is often described as an oligarchy, with stakeholders competing for territory and influence underneath one head of state - Vladimir Putin. But what does this mean for Russian citizens on the ground? Who do they go to in order to resolve local or domestic disputes? And what effect does corruption have on their everyday lives? The culmination of a three-year research project, featuring extensive field research, The Russian State and the People seeks to answer those questions. The book is based on 160 qualitative interviews with Russian citizens and Russian civil servants in north-western Russia, from Murmansk to St Petersburg - including both rural areas and urban centres. Basing their hypothesis on Richard Sakwa's theories of a Russian 'normative state', and an 'administrative state' which operates beneath it, the authors assess notions of freedom, 'Russian-ness' and corruption through the experiences of those who live there. This will be an essential part of future research on Russian state power and citizenship under President Putin.