Cheskin and March (2015) ‘State–Society Relations in Contemporary Russia.’
Citation: Cheskin, Ammon and March, Luke (2015) ’State–Society Relations in Contemporary Russia: New Forms of Political and Social Contention, East European Politics, 31:3, pp. 261-273.
Time Period Covered:
Theory, Research Question, Hypothesis:
Cheskin and March (2015): Seek to broaden the concept of “contentious politics” to include models of “ consentful” as well as “dissentful” contention and overcome normative assumptions that over-emphasise distinctions between civil society and the state.
Relationship to Other Research/Ideas Contested/Noted Gaps:
Cheskin and March (2015:263): “The consensus view of Russia is that it is now a relatively stable “ electoral” or “ competitive” authoritarian regime, in which limited (“ managed” or “ licensed”) political contention plays an important legitimating and information function, but is deprived of any real autonomous, countervailing ability.”
Concepts and Definitions:
Method:
Primary/Original Data:
Argument/Conclusion:
Cheskin and March (2015): While looking at public and active forms of contention such as the opposition and issue-based movements is important to understanding the interaction between state and society, an exclusive focus on visual mobilisation misses an important part of state-society relations.
Limitations/Flaws:
Abstract:
Much existing analysis of Russian state–society relations focuses on public, active forms of contention such as the “opposition” and protest movements. There is need for a more holistic perspective which adds study of a range of overt, “co-opted”, and hidden forms of interaction to this focus on public contention. A theoretical and empirical basis for understanding state–society relations in today’s Russia involves broadening the concept of “contentious politics” to include models of “consentful” as well as “dissentful” contention. A diffused model of contentious politics can situate claim-making along the axes of consentful and dissentful motivations, and compliant and contentious behaviours.
Notes:
Cheskin and March (2015:268): Putin’s version of civil society is used both to repress forms of civil society organisation directed against the state and to mobilise society and societal participation.”