Russia’s Local Reform of 2003 from a Historical Perspective: A Comparison with China
Russia’s Local Reform of 2003 from a Historical Perspective: A Comparison with China

Summary/Abstract: This essay investigates Russia’s rural self-government in historical, demographical, and social contexts, comparing it with its Chinese counterpart.1 These countries differ from each other in terms of the level of urbanization2 and the population density in rural areas, but they share a number of geographical conditions and a communist past. Both Russia and China are rising powers, but their further growth, to a significant extent, depends on stable and effective rural governance. A serious threat for Russia is its demographic decline, which is closely connected with the aging and devastation of its countryside. On the walls of the “palaces of culture” (community centers) in rural Russia, we often see posters with the slogan: “Don’t Drink, Don’t Smoke, Bear Babies!” In fact, the Russian authorities pursue the goal of increasing young families in rural areas as a nationwide strategic task.3

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