ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the suitability of public value theory as a discourse in post-communist contexts. To that end, it identifies common elements between public value theory and the experience of post-communist institutions, through concerns that include: citizen participation, accountability, resistance to change, and democratic legitimacy. The chapter considers how basic assumptions of public value theory are unmet in communist settings, and therefore why public value cannot be directly transposed into post-communist contexts. It then presents a case study for transparency in the Russian budget process to illustrate the degree to which public value can be created. The chapter’s findings suggest that, despite the obstacles, public value creation can serve as a pertinent discourse in post-communist environments.
