Who Opposes Liberalization?
Narrowing Circles of “Relevant” Opponents Changing coalitions of various social and economic groups have opposed structural changes in the electricity sector. The most threatening opposition to Chubais’ vision of a liberalized electricity market has narrowed over time, and, arguably, become less representative of public opinion. In the 1990s, the most vocal and powerful opponents included Duma deputies, the regional governors and regionally-based industrialists, often the incumbent benefi ciaries of the UES empire. In contrast, in recent years the relevant opponents are concentrated closer to the president. A comparison of the two reforms attempts – one in 1997 that largely failed and one after 2003 that has so far succeeded – reveals how much the actors and the contours of the conflicts in the sector have shifted. UES tried to liberalize and restructure the electricity sector for the first time in 1997. At that time, the fragmentation of bureaucratic authority and the economic crisis
