ИСТИНА

The paper provides an in-depth analysis of the practice of local governance in the North Caucasus, by example of land tenure conflicts in Kabardino-Balkaria. We follow an iterative analytical strategy, systematically comparing qualitative case studies to develop grounded hypotheses. Based on fieldwork conducted in Kabardino-Balkaria, we identify the most relevant patterns and dynamics of natural resource governance, using land tenure disputes as our starting point. Our research shows that there are three dominant patterns of local resource governance. The first pattern is formed in areas where land is of little value and communities are left to themselves to solve issues. In the second case, larger businesses with state backing manage to monopolise land resources and sideline local communities. In the third case, local communities are strong enough to defend their control over external attempts to take hold of land resources that are of wider strategical value.