Governance networks and vertical power in Russia – Environmental impact assessments and collaboration between state and non-state actors

This article examines how governance networks and “vertical”, that is, hierarchical or coercive, modes of governance are related to each other under the circumstances of increasing authoritarianism in Russia. The empirical data from nine in-depth case studies focusing on negotiations between administrations, non-governmental organisations, companies, and experts during environmental impact assessments were collected in the Russian regions of Krasnodar and Irkutsk. The data confirm that regional and federal authorities resort to control and coercion, but also promote cooperation in order to solve policy problems and compensate for the poor performance of formal institutions.