Abstract

This essay is focused on the analysis of several success stories of state-directed developmental projects and programmes in Russia, which are designed and implemented amid conditions of bad governance. I argue that these success stories do not serve as exceptions to the general rules of bad governance but rather confirm its overall tendencies. The prioritisation of state support for successful projects and programmes is related to conspicuous consumption of material and symbolic benefits by the political leadership against the background of mediocre policy outcomes beyond the ‘pockets of efficiency’ intentionally designed by authorities. The analysis of several success stories related to technological development and the advancement of higher education addresses the questions of why they were short-lived and resulted in diminished returns and/or weak multiplicative effects. Thus, success stories become the other side of the coin for bad governance: these achievements are intertwined with the general trends of governing the state.

摘要

本文重点分析了俄罗斯国家指导的发展项目和计划的几个成功案例，这些项目和计划是在治理不善的条件下设计和实施的。我认为，这些成功案例并不是不良治理一般规则的例外，而是证实了其总体趋势。国家优先支持成功的项目和计划与政治领导层在超出当局有意设计的“效率口袋”之外的平庸政策结果的背景下显着消耗物质和象征性利益有关。对与技术发展和高等教育进步有关的几个成功案例的分析解决了为什么它们是短暂的并导致收益减少和/或乘法效应弱的问题。因此，成功案例成为治理不善的另一面：这些成就与治理国家的总体趋势交织在一起。