Join Harvard's Davis Center for a panel discussion on the role of the economy in the stability of illiberal regimes. Panelists will discuss how enduring loyalty of business elites, engagement of civil society in state-led reforms and lasting satisfaction of the populations with the illiberal regimes in Eurasia undermine the popular axioms in the interaction of economic and political developments. Despite Western sanctions, economic decline and attacks by the governments, business elites and the middle class remain the regimes’ allies and are unlikely to become forces for political change and modernization. Regardless of the deterioration of living standards and shrinking of freedoms the population perceive their countries and their governance positively, while socially-oriented NGOs cooperate with the government in delivery of state (social) services. 

Additionally, the panel will reconsider the common beliefs on the role of the economy in the stability of illiberal regimes by focusing on the dynamics in the relations of political elites with business in Russia, transformations of the middle class in Azerbaijan and the engagement of NGOs in recent social reforms in Russia.

Speakers:

Linda Cook, professor of political science and Slavic studies, Brown University; center associate, Davis Center

Inna Melnykovska, strategy and policy fellow, Smith Richardson Foundation; visiting scholar, Davis Center

Cristina Boboc, Ph.D. fellow, Ghent University; visitor, Davis Center

Chair: Alexandra Vacroux, executive director, Davis Center; lecturer on government, Harvard University