Violent Corporate Raiding in Russia: Preconditions and Protective Factors

By using a database of 543 cases of violent corporate raiding in Russia from 2011–2013 assembled by the Center of Public Procedures “Business against Corruption,” we tested several hypotheses: Violent corporate raiding is widespread in regions 1) with well-developed industrial, construction and trade sectors 2) rent-oriented law enforcement agencies cooperating with raiders and 3) low numbers of NGOs. The level of violent corporate raiding is connected to the economic appeal of the region and its capacity to implement raiding due to the rent-orientation of regional law enforcement. Because raiders can be considered rational economic actors who try to maximize their benefit, the best way to improve the situation is to increase the risks for raiders by developing civil mechanisms for the protection of entrepreneurs, for example, business associations and other NGOs.