Self-Governing Associations in Northwestern Russia: Common Things as the Foundation for Res Publica

Abstract
The project studies the developments in self-governing associations in northwestern Russia after the recent Russian reform of municipal self-government. The effective changes in funding bodies of self-government that leave them a fixed portion of federal taxes have been adopted only in 2003. The project looks (1) at human interaction involved in diverse forms of self-government - an object of traditional research - but it also examines (2) how and which material objects take part in the coordination of human conduct. In that, the project aims at investigating the current decrepit infrastructure in Russian urban and rural settings, whose condition will be seen as an active factor that contributes to coordinating human action in a republic. The group consists of five researchers. Their work will focus on the relationship between networks and self-governing associations , on the role changes in heating and electricity-supply infrastructure play in the self-governing reform in Russia after the recent legislation changes, and on a long-term case-study in the formation of a self-governing association in post-Soviet Russia, taking the European University at St. Petersburg as the object. Finally, historical studies of similar problems (medieval republic of Novgorod) will be made as well to draw parallels with the current situation.'

Funding period: 2004-2007

Person in charge of the research: Professor Risto Alapuro, University of Helsinki, Dept of Sociology,tel. +358 - (0)9 1912 3913, fax. +358 - (0)9 1912 3967, risto.alapuro(at)helsinki.fi

Researchers:
Associate Professor Oleg Kharkhordin, European University at St. Petersburg, kharkhor(at)eu.spb.ru
Dr. Olga Bychkova, European University at St. Petersburg, demon(at)eu.spb.ru
Dr. Olga Kalacheva, European University at St. Petersburg, kalacheva(at)eu.spb.ru
Doctoral student to be recruited later

Project description