Tag Archives: budget

Low on capacity

As timelines in Russia’s war against Ukraine are shifting, the war has highlighted Russia’s low state capacity. Military mobilization and the state’s reply to the economic disruptions created by the war offer two recent examples. This will become a much … Continue reading

Posted in Policies, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Built for a different purpose

As timelines shift in Russia’s war against Ukraine, costs and risks are reinterpreted by the authorities, but always with the regime’s perceived security interests in mind. The divergence between regime security and Russia’s interests will grow. Consider how budget cuts … Continue reading

Posted in Policies | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Short-termism and the long war

One of the reasons why the economic crisis triggered by the war and Western sanctions has not caused bigger problems in Russia is that so far both the population and elites could afford to believe that throwing more resources on … Continue reading

Posted in Policies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mobilization, a new statism and the question of time

Eight years into Russia’s war on Ukraine and two months into the present invasion, the perspective of a protracted war and long-term sanctions is increasingly considered on all sides. The invasion has led to significant changes in Russia already, including … Continue reading

Posted in Policies, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No questions allowed

The expulsion of a sitting Duma deputy from United Russia for breaking party discipline has very few precedents. It may thus foreshadow the ruling party’s approach to legislating in the years leading up to 2024 and possibly also serves as … Continue reading

Posted in Kremlinology, Policies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Investing in stagnation

We haven’t seen sweeping personnel changes following Russia’s legislative election this year. But things are shifting below the surface. It seems that the authorities’ quest for stability is accelerating changes in the relationship between the federal government and the regions, … Continue reading

Posted in Policies, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Merge, subordinate, centralize

Last year’s constitutional reform created the concept of federal territories, a new type of administrative division, and seemed to integrate municipalities into the system of administrative power. 2020 also brought the issue of regional mergers back onto the political agenda. … Continue reading

Posted in Policies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment