Coping with the failure of the police in post-Soviet Russia: findings from one empirical study

Abstract

This paper discusses various adaptations and strategies developed by post-Soviet Russians in response to the failure of the police. It does so based on findings derived from an empirical study carried out by the author. A number of survival techniques utilised by citizens to compensate for dysfunctional policing is outlined, and dangers triggered by these coping strategies are highlighted.

Criminal victimisation and health: Examining the relation in nine countries of the former Soviet Union

“…It is possible for example, that the high levels of institutional scepticism and distrust seen throughout the countries in the fSU (Mishler & Rose, 1997;Stickley, Ferlander, et al, 2009) might be discouraging help-seeking following victimisation, as distrust in doctors has been cited as one reason for refusing treatment among some individuals in the countries in this region (Balabanova, Roberts, Richardson, Haerpfer & McKee, 2012). Moreover, there is some suggestion that having to interact with the police is itself not only very stressful (Zernova, 2012), but that the police themselves may also be perpetrators of violent crime in some settings (Gerber & Mendelson, 2008). Finally, the pressures induced by transition may have also acted to undermine the ties that have traditionally bound small groups of people (such as family and friends) together in some of our study countries (Twigg & Schecter, 2003).…”

Creolization of Values: How Fair Taxation is Achieved for Everyone Book review: Björklund Larsen L. (2017) Shaping Taxpayers: Values in Action at the Swedish Tax Agency , New York; Oxford: Berghahn Books. 220 p.

“…Так, коммерческие компании могут обладать важным ресурсом, которым не обладают многие государственные организации, -устойчивыми коррупционными отношениями с правоохранителями [Кравцова 2012]. В отличие от государственных органов и организаций, у коммерческих организаций намного больше возможностей для предоставления неформальных бесплатных услуг сотрудникам полиции, чем последние пользуются, согласно свидетельствам, полученным из эмпирических качественных исследований [Zernova 2011]. Опросные данные свидетельствуют в пользу того, что сотрудники полиции часто оказывают охранные услуги фирмам и предприятиям, выходя за рамки своих должностных обязанностей [Wilson et al 2008].…”

Political corruption in Eurasia: Understanding collusion between states, organized crime and business

“…In Russia, thousands of police personnel are officially punished annually for different kinds of law violations including corrupt practices however this is likely only the tip of the iceberg (Beck and Robertson, 2009). In a well-known scandal in the late 1990s, a group of Russian high-ranking policemen ran a criminal organization that engaged in blackmail and the racketeering of businessmen, trading in firearms and fabricating cases (Zernova, 2012).…”