Subnational electoral competition has been crucial to nationwide democratization in countries like Mexico. To what extent could the recent return of gubernatorial elections in Russia’s regions open such possibilities in Putin’s Russia? This question appears especially pertinent if we take into account the “cracks in the wall” of the political regime that became apparent following the parliamentary elections of December 2011. This period has been characterized by political uncertainty, with popular mobilization and emboldened opposition on one side and on the other the liberalizing steps at the end of President Dmitry Medvedev’s term followed by a crackdown under President Vladimir Putin. In this memo, I argue that the political dynamic set by the new round of gubernatorial elections might serve to enhance the political uncertainty that the regime has been working so hard to contain. […]
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