On Liberisation of Power, or Aftertaste of Non-Participant Observation on Russian Officials'' Life

Abstract

The article comprises the materials of a two-year research (2012-2013) on professional ethics of governmental and municipal officials initiated by the Russian Presidentail Academy of National Economy and Public Administartion. The sample includes officials of the federal and regional level, ranging from specialists to top managers. 150 biographical interviews were analyzed to identify worldview, values and norms that are prevalent in officials’ circle. There was set a problem of inconsistency of the liberal rhetoric pronounced in the administrative reforms of the latest decades, as well as the notion of the due and the existing among key subjects that are intended to put the reforms into practice. There are three conclusions that can be made on the research performed. First, liberisation of power is caused not by the inner conviction of those in power but is driven by outer considerations: changing institutional environment, transforming civic awareness, looking for the idea of a modern country. Second, an official remains victim to bureaucratic procedures that are being reproduced by his colleagues. Reforms are choked by the activity of their own implementers, who see their main role in creating new regulations and reporting forms. Third, the top management of the government administration, although sharing opinions which are similar to that of their European and North-American colleagues, do support in fact the bureaucratic game by violating common rules.