Deciphering the workings of sistema in Russian regions: Informal governance in Sverdlovsk Oblast

One of the most accurate concepts describing the mechanics and workings of the Kremlin was conceptualized as sistema, a network-based system of informal governance. Despite some insight into the sistema at the central level, little is known about the phenomena in the Russian regions. My research attempts to fill this gap by analysing the size and impact of informal governance on the example of Sverdlovsk Oblast. By conducting a multiangled data analysis combined with social network analysis I plan to demonstrate a set of interconnections between politics and business in the region, to empirically confirm the existence of sistema along with practical ways of its detection & impact on business environment.

Image credit: Stanislav Korabelnikov (Станислав Корабельников) aka Proidemtes, source: VKontakte