Threats to property rights in Russia: From private coercion to state aggression

Jordan Gans-Morse*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

99 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article explores a fundamental shift in threats to property rights in Russia. Whereas extortion rackets and other forms of physical intimidation once posed the gravest threat to property rights, state actors are now the primary aggressors. Based on in-depth interviews and an original survey of Russian firms, the article demonstrates a dramatic decline in threats related to private coercion, due partly to firms' increased reliance on formal legal institutions. By contrast, state threats to property rights have increased sharply. Key threats include seizing firms' assets, illegal corporate raiding, extortion, illicit fines, and unlawful arrests of businesspeople.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)263-295
Number of pages33
JournalPost-Soviet Affairs
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2012

Funding

1Gans-Morse is Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Northwestern University. The author thanks Neil Abrams, Kathryn Hendley, Simeon Nichter, Andrew Roberts, Regine Spector, Kateryna Vago, Edward Walker, Andrei Yakovlev, and the editor of Post-Soviet Affairs. All errors and omissions are the sole responsibility of the author. An earlier draft of this article was presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association in Seattle, WA, September 1–4, 2011. The author acknowledges the support of the American Bar Foundation, Institute for Humane Studies, Kellogg School of Management Dispute Resolution Research Center, National Science Foundation, and Social Science Research Council Eurasia Program.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Political Science and International Relations

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Threats to property rights in Russia: From private coercion to state aggression'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this