Imitation and Enforced Cooperation: State and Civil Society in Ethnic Conflict Management

In accordance with the overall objectives of the Russian federal government’s effort to build up the resources of civil society organisations that are ready to co-operate with the state, regional authorities involve ethnic NGOs, diasporas and experts into processes of ethnic conflict management. By resorting to approaches of ‘meta-governance’, this chapter lays particular emphasis on the question of how state authorities govern collaboration between the state and non-state actors. The study addresses the topic by comparing the two North Caucasian regions, Stavropol and Krasnodar. By investigating two platforms designed for conflict management in each region, this chapter shows how aspects of network governance are pursued by using ‘soft’, ‘hard’ or even coercive tools, and explains how non-state actors as well as federal and regional authorities interact when creating and managing collaboration. Empirically, the study builds on an analysis of legal and policy documents, observation of consultations at round tables, as well as 54 semi-structured interviews with representatives of ethnic NGOs, regional authorities, academics and journalists.