Network configuration of the political elite in the integration of Russia’s new regions: the cases of Donetsk People’s Republic and Kherson oblast
https://doi.org/10.31249/poln/2025.03.13
Abstract
In 2022, the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, became part of the Russian Federation, initiating large-scale processes of their political, administrative, and economic integration. One of the key tasks is the incorporation of the regional political elites of these territories into Russia's multi-level governance system. In this context, the article analyzes the network configuration of the regional political elite of the new federal subjects of the Russian Federation in terms of their integration into the federal system of governance.
Using the cases of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Kherson region, the study examines the degree of integration of regional elites into federal patronal networks. The article highlights the role of the “curatorship” (‘shefstvo’) institution, which functions as a specific mechanism for integrating new regions into Russia's multi-level system of governance.
Based on an analysis of the political networks of the governors, the article explores the features of network-based political governance in the regions. The results of network modeling reveal significant differences both within the intra-regional networks of the head of the DPR and the governor of the Kherson region, and in their connections with federal elites and other regions. These findings suggest divergent priorities in the integration of new regions: while the Kherson region demonstrates a focus on political integration, the DPR emphasizes economic recovery and infrastructure development.
References
1. Balandin Yu. A. Patronal politics and rotation of the governor's corps in contemporary Russia: factors of dismissals and reappointments (2005–2021). PhD thesis. Moscow, 2024, 194 p. (In Russ.)
2. Baturo A., Elkink J.A. Dynamics of regime personalization and patron–client networks in Russia, 1999–2014. Post-Soviet affairs. 2016, Vol. 32, N 1, P. 75–98. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1060586X.2015.1032532
3. Burkhardt F., Wittke C., Rabinovych M., Bescotti E. What makes a citizen? Russia's passportization of the Donbas. Russian analytical digest. 2022, N 277, P. 2–4.
4. Busygina I., Filippov M. Non-Democratic federalism and decentralization in Post-Soviet states. London: Routledge, 2023, 236 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003267508
5. Gaivoronsky Yu.O., Balandin Yu.A. Recruitment of the governor’s corps in contemporary Russia: evolution of patronal networks (2017–2021). The Journal of political theory political philosophy and sociology of politics Politeia. 2022, N 4, P. 146–167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30570/2078-5089-2022-107-4-146-167 (In Russ.)
6. Grigoriev I.S., Dekalchuk A.A., Gubaydullina S.Sh. Multilevel governance and resource exchange: votes, budgets, information. Polis. Political studies. 2021, N 1, P. 169–181. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2021.01.12 (In Russ.)
7. Hale H.E. Patronal politics: Eurasian regime dynamics in comparative perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014, 538 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139683524
8. Keller F.B. Moving beyond factions: using social network analysis to uncover patronage networks among Chinese elites. Journal of East Asian studies. 2016, Vol. 16, N 1, P. 17–41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/jea.2015.3
9. Malyarenko T., Kormych B. Russian policy towards the economy of occupied Ukrainian territories: crawling de-modernization. Eurasian Geography and Economics. 2023, Vol. 64, N 2, P. 220–237. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15387216.2023.2167097
10. Marandici I., Leșanu A. The political economy of the post-Soviet de facto states: A paired comparison of transnistria and the Donetsk people’s republic. Problems of Post-Communism. 2021, Vol. 68, N 4, P. 339–351. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10758216.2020.1785317
11. Melnikov K.V. Clientelism and informal networks of regional elites in Russia: network analysis of the case of Sverdlovsk oblast. Polis. Political Studies. 2021, N 6, P. 171– 188. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2021.06.12 (In Russ.)
12. Paustyan E. Elite cohesion and resilience of the Russian regions: the case of Belgorod oblast. Post-Soviet affairs. 2024 a, Vol. 40, P. 1–17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1060586X.2024.2354940
13. Paustyan E. Intergovernmental bargaining in multilevel autocracies: the case of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. Territory, politics, governance. 2024 b, Vol. 12, N 5, P. 672–689. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21622671.2022.2046632
14. Pomiguev I.A., Fomin I.V., Maltsev A.M. Network approach in legislative studies: perspective methods for qualitative and quantitative analysis of parliamentary activity. Political science (RU). 2021, N 4, P. 31–59. DOI: http://www.doi.org/10.31249/poln/2021.04.02 (In Russ.)
15. Potočňák A., Mares M. Donbas conflict: how Russia’s Trojan horse failed and forced Moscow to alter its strategy. Problems of Post-Communism. 2023, Vol. 70, N 4, P. 341–351. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10758216.2022.2066005
16. Sharafutdinova G., Turovsky R. The politics of federal transfers in Putin’s Russia: regional competition, lobbying, and federal priorities. Post-Soviet Affairs. 2017, Vol. 33. N 2, P. 161–175. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1060586X.2016.1163826
17. Starodubtsev A. Federalism and regional policy in contemporary Russia. London: Routledge, 2018, 188 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315582061
18. Smorgunov L. Manageability and network political management. Vlast’ (The Authority). 2014, N 6, P. 5–14. (In Russ.).
19. Šmídová A., Šmíd T. Unfinished story of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics: Towards a de facto state? In: Hoch T., Kopeček V. (eds.). De Facto States in Eurasia. London: Routledge, 2019, P. 136–155.
20. Turovsky R. Russia’s local self-government: the agent of the government in the trap of insufficient funding and civil passivity. Polis. Political Studies. 2015, N 2, P. 35–51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2015.02.03 (In Russ.)
21. Turovsky R., Gaivoronsky Y. Russia’s regions as winners and losers: Political motives and outcomes in the distribution of federal government transfers. European politics and society. 2017, Vol. 18, N 4, P. 529–551. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23745118.2017.1286312
Supplementary files
Review
Views:
49
Email this article 
Post a Comment 