Anton Kazun and Andrei Yakovlev. “Who Demands Collective Action in an Imperfect Institutional Environment? A Case Study of the Profession of Advocates in Russia.” Journal of Eurasian Studies, vol. 8, no. 1 (2024): 60-71.
This article investigates the potential for collective action among Russian criminal defense lawyers (“advocates”) within a flawed institutional environment, using survey data from nine regions. It explores how strong professional ethics and firsthand exposure to client rights violations drive lawyers to support stronger professional associations. The study argues that a committed core of ethically motivated advocates could serve not only as a collective force for reform but also as a mechanism to hold law enforcement accountable and improve legal standards—highlighting the role of lawyers as potential agents of resistance and accountability in a declining or compromised democracy.