Authors

Andrei Yakovlev¹;  ¹ Davis Center Harvard University, United States

Discussion

Previous studies on state-business interactions in Russia demonstrated the existence of some balance in relations between main actors before 2022 based on access to rents. On the business side, these actors include large state-owned companies, the largest private companies (‘oligarchs’), large international businesses (represented in the Foreign Investment Advisory Council under the RF government) and other private businesses. On the government side, it is possible to consider at least four groups of actors: the Kremlin, the ‘economic cabinet’, the ‘security cabinet’, and the regional administrations. The invasion of Ukraine in 2022 changed the balance. It especially reduced the bargaining power of the economic cabinet and regional authorities. At the same time, the war provided benefits for some economic actors, reducing opportunities for other actors. The parameters of new equilibrium are still not clear, and this paper will show the main factors of changes and the driving forces behind them. Also, it will discuss possible options for different actors on both sides in the future.