Decentering the Russian state: local governance or regional control?: the case of the Sakha Republic and the city of Yakutsk

This thesis explores the processes and consequences of decentering the state in the Russian federation and the effects on local government. The methodology employed draws from the literature on decentralization, local government, political transitions and Russian Federalism and intergovernmental affairs. The study focuses on how Russia's regions between 1991 to 1995 were able to wrestle significant power and authority from the centre. It is argued that decentralization has increased the power and autonomy of the regional governments, while Russia's local governments have been left with few resources to administer the services downloaded to them. A case study of the Sakha Republic and the City of Yakutsk is employed to both demonstrate the increased role of regional administrations in post-Soviet Russian society, and to determine the degree of decentralization to the local level. A study of two housing projects is used to examine the effectiveness of regional and local decision-making and the delivery of services. The thesis concludes that the level of power delegated to Russia's local government, where responsibility for day to day administration is most salient, may serve as an indication of the overall level of reform in the Russian state.