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An Impact of Different Governance Strategies on Conflict Resolution and Development Regulation in North Caucasian Republics
DOI 10.18522/2072-0181-2015-88-94
The article analyses an impact of governance strategies in different North Caucasus state entities on features of conflict regulation related to land use issues, as well as on a constellation of actors and institutional structure at local level. As an empirical data the study refers to results of field research conducted at the level of municipalities in two North Caucasus republics – Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. The features of conflict relations between the state and local communities are closely linked, on the one hand, to a degree of power centralization and its penetration into local level, quantity of state subsidies, innovations and development programs. On the other hand, intensity of conflicts might be varying depending on geographical and ethno-cultural conditions. Overall, the current system of governance in the North Caucasus represents a symbiosis of formal and informal, traditional and innovative governance practices. Democratic procedures are part of the governance system based on legitimate embedding of “new” elites in the governance process. Such permanent institutional hybridity contributes a certain stability, and non-violent confl ict regulation at local level. An effectiveness of such governance is assessed by a level of loyalty to the federal center and a capacity for conflict prevention/resolution. However, the effectiveness of such governance strategies raises doubts from the long-term perspective since the priority is given to stability, not development.
The article analyses an impact of governance strategies in different North Caucasus state entities on features of conflict regulation related to land use issues, as well as on a constellation of actors and institutional structure at local level. As an empirical data the study refers to results of field research conducted at the level of municipalities in two North Caucasus republics – Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. The features of conflict relations between the state and local communities are closely linked, on the one hand, to a degree of power centralization and its penetration into local level, quantity of state subsidies, innovations and development programs. On the other hand, intensity of conflicts might be varying depending on geographical and ethno-cultural conditions. Overall, the current system of governance in the North Caucasus represents a symbiosis of formal and informal, traditional and innovative governance practices. Democratic procedures are part of the governance system based on legitimate embedding of “new” elites in the governance process. Such permanent institutional hybridity contributes a certain stability, and non-violent confl ict regulation at local level. An effectiveness of such governance is assessed by a level of loyalty to the federal center and a capacity for conflict prevention/resolution. However, the effectiveness of such governance strategies raises doubts from the long-term perspective since the priority is given to stability, not development.
North Caucasus, conflict resolution, state governance, regional policy, political stability, key resources