Party Cohesion and Policy-Making in Russia

Abstract

Most commentators agree that a consolidated party system has not emerged in Russia since the collapse of communism. At the same time, Russian parties within parliament have become more cohesive. Recent analysis of Russian legislative politics has concentrated on the electoral foundations of party cohesion, but the results are mixed. Alternative explanations of cohesion that focus on the policy-shaping incentives commanded by parties have received less attention. This article attempts to fill the gap by assessing the evidence for party effects on policy at different stages of the legislative process. Focusing on legislative results in the sphere of economic policy, party effects in two venues of legislative decision-making are examined: the Duma Council and legislative committees. The article contends that the provision of policy benefits provides a weak explanation for party cohesion in Russia. Other explanations, such as presidential strategy and intra-party arrangements, are proposed as alternative avenues of research.