Paternalism as a pattern of political participating in city Perm

Natalia ShushkovaNational Research University

Higher School of Economics, City of Perm (HSE- Perm)

Purpose of a project

to explore established pattern of political participating in large industrial city:

• to reconstruct the image of “politic” and “politicians” in post-soviet public space

• to study ties between everydayness and politic actions

• to reveal paternalist as a pattern of political participating

City descriptionWas founded in 18th century as a provincial center. Perm is located on

the West of the Ural. At the Soviet time it was a large industrial center. The central water system operate regularly since mid 1950. Today most of plants try to stay afloat. The city population is about 900,000. 7 university and numbers of university branch open for students.

Perm is the capital of region – Permskij Kraj. It has its own City Administration, City Council, Mayor (from 1996), and City-Manager (from 2006). In Perm also located Region (Kraj) Government, Governor and Region (Kraj) Legislative Assembly.

Nowadays dwellers could elect deputies of City Council and Region Legislative Assembly. Since 2011 Perm Mayor is elected by the City Council.

Data massiveSurvey (stratified sampling, personal in-home/by phone):“Perm’s electorate political opinions” at 2000-2001 and 2005-

2006. Overall 20. N = from 365 to 752 at different surveySemi-structured Interview:“Policy and everyday life”, 2007 (20 interview).Expert Interview:“Power. Government and Business in Perm region: interaction

and impact”, 2003 (14 interview).

Findings

Politic = electoral(connected with election)

political life has flashing form

Findings

Political struggle is undesirable(dirty games),

politician who publicly criticize another person’s actions, policy

or ideas – is troublemaker

Findings

election campaign is a kindof festive,

politicians who do not useentertainment tricks have no chance

to be elected

Findings

election campaignhas its own rituals:

• Give help to “needy” (children, teachers, pensioners…)

• Making gifts• Make fests• Bring inhabitants to cathedral and cloisters

FindingsElection campaign

has strong paternalistic rhetoric:

SupportProtect

Care

Findings

Major electorate – are pensioners(people with low income,unemployed, with low education level)

Social and economic wealthy peopleprefer not to participate in election

Discussion: Paternalist “contract”

Perm’s paternalism distinguish from typical patron-client relationship (S.N. Eisenstadt and Roniger, 1984):

All politician promises (especially those that addressed to the future) has virtual nature – his followings know it – but seriously believe in it.

Electoral cycle includes periods of appeal and disappointing.