Elites and the Diffusion of Foreign Models in Russia

Abstract

Globalization has sparked renewed interest in the diffusion of ideas and norms across boundaries. Although much work has focused on diffusion at the macro‐level and on the groups that transmit ideas, few researchers have studied the cognitive processes of political elites as they weigh the merits of various foreign‐inspired models. Drawing on a series of original, in‐depth interviews with Russian parliamentarians and high‐ranking bureaucrats conducted in 1996, this paper makes two contributions to the study of individual‐level borrowing in the Russian context. First, the openness of Russian elites to foreign borrowing is investigated; despite the public rhetoric about Russia's uniqueness, a substantial number of Russian elites are willing to borrow from foreign experience – particularly from models of European welfare capitalism. Second, three explanations of why policy‐makers prefer to emulate some countries rather than others are tested – because they are similar to their own country either geographically, historically or culturally (comparability); because they have geostrategic prominence (prestige); or because they excel economically and/or politically (performance). Comparability and prestige are found to be of lesser importance than performance to Russian elites when considering the merits of various foreign models. Given that Russia closely approximates a most‐likely case for validating explanations stressing comparability, this suggests that the array of foreign ideas that could become part and parcel of Russia's transition process is probably wider than is usually assumed. It also implies that, in general, the regional dimension of diffusion plays a smaller role than previously theorized.

Globalization and the local government learning process in post‐Mao China: a transnational perspective

“…For example, a 'student-tutor' relationship exists between the Czech Republic and Hungary on the one hand and between the European Union and NATO on the other (Jacoby 2001). Similarly, Rivera (2004) found that Russia borrowed from and used the model of Western welfare capitalism in its social policy reforms.…”

Reference Group Perspective on State Behaviour: A Case Study of Estonia's Counterterrorism Policies

“…In the literature of international politics it has been noted that state leaders, too, refer to external models for making policy-related decisions (Agyeman-Duah & Olatunde 1991;Price 1971;Rivera 2004). It is suggested that the similarity of human social behaviour at different levels of aggregation opens up a possibility for inferring state conduct from individuals' actions.…”

“…Thus, a state is likely to adopt norms and perspectives of a normative reference group that is perceived as similar to it in some important ways, as having a positive image, or as beneficial to it. When this normative group is also geographically close, the state will be further inclined to identify with the group (Rivera 2004).…”

“…A group that is believed to have expertise and experience in a specified issue-area is likely to be a role model for other states. What also matters is the perceived similarity or geographical proximity of the comparison group and a borrowing state (Rivera 2004 relations with the group as beneficial to Estonia's image; and that it adopted the group's policies and perspectives to promote Estonia's acceptance by the group. The utilitarian reference group can be identified on the basis of expressed and inferred state interest in obtaining rewards or avoiding punishment mediated by the group.…”

The Barriers to Intra-Opposition Cooperation in the Post-Communist World: Evidence from Kyrgyzstan

“…In one case, a respondent answered fully all of the open-ended questions but refused to fill out the questionnaire. 8 For another example of work in the post-communist field using elite interviews to ask respondents to reflect on their own values and the factors shaping them, see Rivera (2004).…”