In this paper institutional change in the former Soviet Union will be explored by focusing on local government politics and administration. The political turmoil in local government is examined as efforts are made to capture the ‘residual legitimacy’ of the Communist Party and to replace the latent functions of the Party in coordinating the complex structure of local government. It is demonstrated that the complex centralized structure of Soviet local government still exists. It is argued that the conflict between the mayor and the city soviet has at least partly been a turf battle over whether the mayor or the city soviet will assume functions previously performed by units of the Communist Party; that, although on the surface the administrative system has been significantly altered, some units are little changed from the Soviet period; and that policy responsibilities of city government are being shaped as they assume by default residual responsibilities from the republic government and as the effects of privatization are felt.
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