From Sovnarkhoz to Siloviki MTA
Institutional Transformations from Late Soviet Planning to Putin's Russia

About this book:

*From Sovnarkhoz to Siloviki* examines the evolution of Russian governance from the late Soviet period to the contemporary era under Vladimir Putin. The book argues that the architecture of the Russian state is defined more by institutional continuity and recombination than by the radical ruptures typically associated with the 1991 collapse. By tracing the "institutional sediment" of Soviet practices—such as territorial economic coordination (Sovnarkhoz), the vetting of elites (Nomenklatura), and the pervasive influence of security organs (KGB)—the text illustrates how late-socialist administrative habits were repurposed to manage the transition to a market economy and the subsequent consolidation of power.

The narrative details how the "Red Directors" of Soviet industry and the cadres of the security services navigated the chaos of the 1990s by converting administrative leverage into ownership and political influence. This transition laid the groundwork for the rise of the *siloviki* (security-service elites), who integrated coercive tools with economic management. The book explores how this hybrid model transformed state corporations, regional federal bargains, and legal systems into instruments of "lawfare" and "managed democracy." In this system, formal democratic and market structures coexist with informal networks of loyalty and discretionary authority, prioritizing state sovereignty and stability over transparency.

Ultimately, the book positions the contemporary Russian state as an "adaptive" entity that has successfully internalized external shocks, such as international sanctions and war, by doubling down on centralized control and import substitution. It concludes that Russia’s path is shaped by a deep "path dependence," where the administrative reflexes of the past—treating information as a resource and procedure as a weapon—continue to define the future. The state remains a complex synthesis of its imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet legacies, functioning through a pragmatic blend of hierarchy, patronage, and ideological appeals to patriotism and order.

What You'll Find Inside:

• The book demonstrates how Soviet administrative institutions did not collapse but recombined, with practices from the Sovnarkhoz territorial councils and nomenklatura networks persisting through the Soviet transition to shape Putin's Russia.
• It traces the evolution of security organs (KGB, MVD, Procuracy) into the siloviki elite, showing how their traditional capabilities in surveillance, investigation, and audit were repurposed for economic governance and state-building.
• Personnel continuity is highlighted as a key factor, with Soviet-era cadres translating their skills in managing scarcity, informal negotiations, and administrative discretion into post-Soviet roles in ministries, banks, and state corporations.
• The territorial administration legacy of the Sovnarkhoz experiment is shown to have influenced center-periphery relations throughout the post-Soviet period, with regional bargaining patterns echoing Soviet-era territorial coordination.
• The book analyzes how state corporations, lawfare (legal procedures as tools of control), and the integration of security organs into economic management created a hybrid system where administrative discretion and personal networks often outweigh formal rules and market mechanisms.

Who's It For:

This book is essential for scholars and students of Russian/Eurasian politics, comparative politics, and post-communist transitions who seek to understand institutional continuity and change. It will particularly benefit political scientists, historians, and policy analysts working on Russia-related issues in government, intelligence, or international organizations, as well as researchers interested in the interplay between security institutions, economic governance, and authoritarian durability. Anyone seeking to comprehend how Soviet-era administrative practices continue to shape contemporary Russian governance under Putin will find valuable insights in this study of institutional recombination.