Ownership without Legitimacy?

Abstract

The paper examines the problem of legitimation of the privatization’s outcomes in Russia and provides a critical appraisal of various political proposals for its resolution. The analysis proceeds from a distinction between two different types of ownership illegitimacy: "definite" and "vague" ones. The paper argues that the "vague" illegitimacy that has evolved in Russia is not an absolute obstacle for economic growth but rather an institutional birth trauma which is common for all post-socialist countries and which could be cured only by piecemeal approaching of relationships between "strong" and "weak" economic actors to principles of fair play.