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 theoretical 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 multiple 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, and 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?