The Rise of Regional Clans: A New Era of Decentralization in Russia
In the early 2000s, President Vladimir Putin was celebrated for his dismantling of Russia’s powerful regional clans—oligarchic networks that had vast control over various parts of the country. The centralization of power under Moscow, although criticized for compromising Russia’s federalism, was seen as a necessary move to stabilize the nation. Fast forward two decades, and these regional power structures are making a comeback, driven by Putin’s conservative staffing policies and reluctance to replace long-serving officials.
The Resurgence of Regional Clans
Initially, Putin’s strategy involved appointing Kremlin-approved governors to replace elected regional heads. This move aimed to curb the influence of local elites and keep power centralized in Moscow. These governors were often rotated to prevent them from establishing strongholds. However, this approach is now showing signs of reverse engineering, leading to a new rise of regional clans.
Today, many Kremlin-appointed governors have remained in their positions for extended terms, becoming entrenched within local elite circles. Even in regions undergoing leadership changes, the replacements frequently hail from the same elite groups, ensuring continuity of influence. This phenomenon has revitalized old power structures, much to the Kremlin’s chagrin.
Stagnation and Aspiration: Governors Stuck in Limbo
The expectation among technocrats accepting regional positions was that these roles would serve as stepping stones to more prestigious national appointments. However, Putin’s reluctance to conduct top-level reshuffles has left many of these governors in a state of suspension. For instance, notable figures such as Gleb Nikitin of Nizhny Novgorod and Alexei Teksler of Chelyabinsk have found themselves stuck in their regional roles with no promotions in sight.
This stagnation has led to governors settling in for the long haul, integrating into the local power structure, and consolidating their influence. The Kremlin’s decision to remove term limits for governors in 2021 only fueled this trend further, allowing figures like Moscow’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin and St. Petersburg’s governor Alexander Beglov to maintain their strongholds.
Clan Politics and Regional Fiefdoms
One consequence of this system is the formation of influential regional clans with extended spheres of influence. Governors in the Urals, for example, often have ties to Sobyanin, himself a former Tyumen region governor. This network of alliances has extended Sobyanin’s influence across multiple regions, bolstering his status as a significant power broker.
The case of the Kaliningrad region underscores this trend: Governor Anton Alikhanov, associated with the state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec, was succeeded by a deputy minister from the same clan. Similar transitions have occurred in the Kursk and Tula regions, indicating that the Kremlin has limited options to revert to its old divide-and-rule policies.
Implications for the Kremlin
The inability to find suitable new candidates for governorships has left many seeing these roles as more of an honorable exile than a career boost. Furthermore, any appointments are contingent on approval from the dominant local clan, complicating the Kremlin’s efforts to maintain centralized control.
This de facto decentralization poses a risk to Moscow’s authority. Embedded within local elites, long-serving governors have less need for Kremlin oversight and more leeway to act independently. If political unrest were to arise, these regional leaders would have a stronger, potentially destabilizing voice, bringing us closer to a post-Putin Russia that mirrors the fragmented state he originally sought to unify.
Conclusion: Repeating History?
The resurgence of regional clans in Russia reveals a significant evolution in the country’s political landscape. As governors grow roots and enhance their local influence, the centralized power that Putin fought to establish is increasingly eroded. This development may not only redefine Russian federalism but also shape the nation’s political future in unforeseen ways, signaling a return to the decentralized power structure that Putin inherited two decades ago.
