The Enhancement of Social Partnership Instruments in the Management of Abandoned Cultural Heritage by the Example of Country Estates in Moscow Region

There is a growing body of domestic research which highlights the specific approaches employed by business, society, and government in managing abandoned cultural heritage sites in Russia. However, questions remain about their strategies for cooperation in the processes of conservation, protection, and restoration. To fill this gap, the proposed study is an attempt to contribute to the discussion of social partnership in cultural heritage management. In particular, we plan to analyze the existing model of trilateral interaction in the process of administration of abandoned country estates in the Moscow region. This research proposes a hypothesis that solving the problem of preserving abandoned cultural heritage sites will be more successful if the government adjusts its activities in such a way that the role of the government as the coordinator of the platform for interaction of all three parties of the social partnership prevails over the role of the government as the administrator of this process. To examine the hypothesis, data will be collected through observations and 9 semi-structured interviews with representatives for the government of Moscow region, local businesses, and civil society organizations. The results of the study can contribute to further research aimed at a detailed study of the already existing platforms for interaction between the three actors, as well as be beneficial to the ongoing adjustment of legislation. Furthermore, the results can be used as the basis for the development of a program for the preservation of cultural heritage sites of Russia for the period until 2045 in pursuance of the President's 2024 instructions to the Federal Assembly.