Ukrainian Cities: Weak Soviets and Strong Mayors

In Ukraine new local soviets were elected in spring 1990. While these bodies are responsible for an increasing number of functions, we have little empirical information about their work. This article deals with the attitudes of the city soviet members to their work in the cities of Chemigov and Odessa. Almost all those who responded to the questionnaire respect administrative experience and let their more experienced colleagues show them the working procedures. Still, the ruling elite is relatively young, generally middle-aged. The power of all-Union bodies apparently declined rapidly in the autumn of 1991. The same happened also in Chernigov and Odessa, although their trade was based on heavy manufacturing. In this situation the deputies find it difficult to identify where power lies. At least in both cities they admit that their own position is weak.