CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Ptichkina, Anastasiia |
|---|---|
| Title | The Power of Capital in Times of War: The Case of ICT Firms in Russia |
| Summary | After the outbreak of full-scale war with Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russian IT sector found itself both the most protected and the most vulnerable positions. While the state introduced sweeping incentives for accredited IT companies – such as military draft deferments, tax breaks, and subsidies for import substitution – it simultaneously employed punitive tools including the revocation of accreditation, forced ownership changes, and exclusion from strategic markets. The analysis draws on theoretical frameworks of crony capitalism, structural and organizational power, and more. Using case studies of firms with varying capital, this thesis examines the interplay between firm behavior and state priorities. Findings show that structural and organizational power offer only conditional protection, and that political loyalty increasingly determines access to state patronage. This research contributes to the understanding of firm-state relations under autocracy, emphasizing the agency of firms in navigating coercive environments, and discussing how selective patronage system works in Russia. |
| Supervisor | Melnykovska Inna |
| Department | Political Science MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/ptichkina_anastasiia.pdf |
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