Corruption in Russia
On the Myth of the Market and the State as Antidote
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Corruption is not an internal affair of state. Recommendations for fighting corruption in Russia take aim primarily at privatisation, decentralisation, and democratisation. These formed the foundation of liberal reforms under President Boris El’tsin. With Vladimir Putin’s accession to office, a fundamental about-face took place. As a consequence of Putin’s statism, the Kremlin again controls key sectors of the national economy. But corruption still flourishes. In public administration in particular, a parallel, semi-feudal chain of command that profits from bribery has been established. Only with a strong civil society and a change of mentality is it possible to overcome endemic corruption.
(Osteuropa 1/2008, pp. 21–34)