Local Self-Government and Titular Regime Control in Russia’s Republics, 1991-1999

Abstract

The Gorbachev era call for "all power to the soviets" initiated a period of reform of local government in the USSR and Russia. The USSR's local soviets had served as political outreach instruments of party rule, enabling the state to penetrate society all the way down to the tiniest town and village. In the postSoviet era, despite the reform efforts, local bodies have continued to exercise social control reminiscent of their predecessors, the local soviets.