The Russian Response to Unpaid Wages

Introduction -- The crisis -- The reaction -- The puzzle -- The structure of this book -- Why blame attribution matters for protest -- Explanations for protest and passivity in Russia -- Issue difficulty and blame attribution -- Blame attribution and collective action theory -- The importance of blame attribution for human behavior -- What is a "normal" amount of protest? -- How much protest is there in Russia? -- What we can learn from individual-level data -- Conclusion -- Wage arrears in Russia: a difficult issue -- The role of the central authorities -- The role of regional and local authorities -- The role of enterprises and enterprise managers -- The role of the general economic situation and the transition period -- The role of international organizations and foreign governments -- The role of the Russian people -- Other sources of wage arrears -- Specifying blameworthy individuals and institutions -- Blame-avoiding strategies -- Blame-avoiding institutions and circumstances -- Conclusion -- Whom Russians blame for wage arrears -- Multicausality and information overload -- Measuring the attribution of blame -- Blame cast widely and inconsistently -- No clear saviors or solutions -- What explains the attribution of blame? -- Conclusion -- The politics of blame -- Protesting wage arrears -- Blame attribution and individual responses to wage arrears -- Blame attribution and group responses to wage arrears -- Feedback: protest's influence on blame attribution -- Conclusion -- Alternative explanations for the Russian response to wage arrears -- Economic arguments -- Psychological arguments -- Cultural arguments -- Organizational arguments -- Opportunities and constraints -- Other explanations for protest and passivity -- The robust relationship betweenblame and protest -- Conclusion -- Implications -- The study of blame attribution and collective action theory -- Blame and protest in comparative perspective -- The unlikeliness of social unrest in Russia -- Alcoholism, depression, and learned helplessness -- Scapegoating and demagoguery -- Appendix A. how the survey was conducted -- Appendix B. survey questions.


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Several other individuals read chapters and full drafts of the manuscript. Their input was invaluable. Tami Buhr, Linda Cook, and Brian Silver provided a regular stream of useful advice throughout the book's evolution. Mike McFaul gave the manuscript an especially careful reading and offered much constructive criticism that shaped my approach to the ‹nal draft. Donna Bahry and Guy Whitten graciously came to Rice to participate in the conference and offered thoughtful comments, as did Phil Roeder and Mark Lichbach from afar. Mark Beissinger, Tim Colton, Michael Hiscox, Gary King, Jeff Kopstein, John O'Loughlin, Sam Popkin, Peter Rutland, Jodi Simons, Sid Tarrow, and Jonathon Weiler gave helpful feedback at various stages, and Vanessa Baird and Jeff Hayes provided ever-cheerful and helpful technical advice. I thank them all.
Several individuals contributed to my knowledge of both protest and labor conditions in Russia. Fred Weir, Serge Schmemann, and other journalists who prefer to remain anonymous were kind enough to offer me their perspectives on media coverage of protest in Russia. I also bene‹ted from the tremendous efforts of David Johnson, the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and the staff of the Jamestown Foundation Monitor, who provide a steady ›ow of information from the widest variety of sources on contemporary Russia.
My apologies go to the subjects of this book, Russians who have suffered from unpaid wages and other economic hardships. The question driving the book is why most Russians have not protested over their hardships. The more burning question from a humanitarian perspective is how to eliminate their hardships so no cause for protest exists. How can Russians ensure that they will receive regular full salaries for their labor, and how can they ensure that economic reforms will not leave them destitute? Most unpaid Russians would probably prefer guidance to observation, and I am sorry that such guidance is outside the scope of this study and beyond my capacity.
I also apologize for the somewhat gloom-and-doom tone of the book. I recognize that a more optimistic introduction and a more optimistic conclusion would please both the Russians involved and U.S. and other audiences. Although I believe the tone accurately characterizes the state of affairs in Russia, I will be happy if proven wrong.
This book was written during training for the 1999 Chicago Marathon and was revised and ‹nished during training for a variety of other running and cycling events. In Boston, Boulder, and Houston, I found great company in my many running and cycling partners, and I thank them for the fun distraction. In particular, I thank the energetic members of the nowdefunct Boston Running Club, the coaching staff of TRACS, Community Running, the collegiate national champion Triathlon Team of the University of Colorado, the Boulder Road Runners, the Bayou City Road Run-ners, the Kenyan Way, and Houston Fit. I have probably logged the most miles with Jack Devine, Jackie Schafer, and Carlos Garcia, and they have my deepest appreciation.
My appreciation and admiration also go to some individuals who have been mentors, cheerleaders, and friends, not just during the writing of this book but before it began and I trust ever after. Tom Gleason and Pat Herlihy introduced me to the study of Russia at Brown University many moons ago, and I prize their gift for teaching and research and their boundless support for their students. Jim O'Leary is a gem of a person and a constant source of good cheer. His approach to life is an inspiration. Finally, Jill Gerber is more a sister than friend. I cherish her intelligence and humor and the bond we share.
I am blessed to have the constant support and encouragement of my family, which I love with all my heart: Barbara Javeline; Anna Goldberg; Brian, Kerri, Taylor, and Jennifer Javeline; and Jodi, Clayton, and Hailey Simons. Wild dogs couldn't tear us apart.