Causes and Consequences of Democratization The regions of Russia [Hardcover]

In recent decades, the regions of Russia have taken different paths of regime transition. Despite the consolidation of an autocratic regime at national level and the centralization steered by Vladimir Putins government, the variation across sub-national regimes persists.

Using an innovative theoretical framework, this book explores both causes and consequences of democratization in the regions of Russia. It is the first study in the field to systematically integrate structural and agency approaches in order to account for economic, social, historical and international causes of democratization and to trace its consequences. By focusing on the challenging and under-studied topic of sub-national regimes, the book provides a unique perspective on regime transition and the new theoretical framework contributes to a better understanding of democratization world-wide.

The book will be of key interest to scholars and students of democratization, sub-national regimes, East European politics, comparative politics, post-communism, and international relations.

1 Introduction 2 Theory of Democratization: Causes and Consequences 3 Regions of Russia: Sub-National Regime Heterogeneity PART I: CAUSES OF DEMOCRATIZATION4 Determinants of Democracy: Structure and Agency 5 Historical Legacies 6 External Factors 7 Limiting Factor PART II: CONSEQUENCES OF DEMOCRATIZATION8 Economic Effects 9 Life Satisfaction, Well-Being and Happiness 10 Public Policy and Natural Resources 11 Religiosity as Identity Formation 12 Emergence of Civil Society: Electoral Behavior and Social Protests 13 Conclusion: Integrative Strategy of Structure-Agency Approach

Russia may be a riddle, wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, but this book does more to unravel its post-Communist experience than any other I can think of. One of its most original aspects is a large-N analysis of sub-national variation in democracy and autocracy, dls£