LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND EMPOWERED BUSINESS: SCENARIOS OF MUTUAL INFLUENCE OF MUNICIPAL HEADS AND ENTREPRENEURS IN RUSSIAN MUNICIPALITIES
The article discusses the policy of the municipalities' Heads in relation to entrepreneurs acquiring a political status and deputies with a business background. The Heads strive to maintain a high level of influence within the territory. Entrepreneurs see their entry into legislatures as an opportunity to acquire new social ties, including ones with officials, and as an opportunity to normatively regulate the context of business activities on the territory. Two scenarios of the relations between the Head and businessmen are identified: the cooperation and the conflict. Commonality or conflict of interests of the municipality and local business determine the choice of a strategy. The intensity of conflict or consensus is determined by the measure of support that the parties give each other. The article explores the interaction of Heads with small and medium businesses. The article is based on the results of the research conducted in four municipalities of the Sverdlovsk and Perm Regions. The main research method is interviews with Heads and other actors of local policies.