Political consolidation and regional development: Russian federalism after 2000

Abstract

The article offers a review of the evolution of Russian federalism, focusing on the transformation of federal relations that took place at the beginning of the 21st century. Particular importance is attached to the analysis of the policy of strengthening the central government, which marked the transition from the period of post-Soviet decentralization to the formation of a "vertical of power." The mechanisms of centralization are also being investigated, including changes in legislation aimed at limiting the autonomy of regions and strengthening control by the federal government. The article examines the unique specifics of Russian presidential federalism, highlighting its distinctive features against the background of classical models of federal structure. Considerable attention is paid to the asymmetric nature of modern federal relations, which manifests itself in the uneven allocation of powers and resources to the subjects of the federation. Examples of the influence of the ethnofederative heritage of the Soviet Union on the modern model, including related problems and contradictions, are given. The issues of spatial development of Russian regions, existing imbalances and the role of various coordination tools used for interaction between the federal center and the subjects are also analyzed. The work reveals a fundamental contradiction caused by the emergence of Russian federalism mainly from above, which in turn generates a steady trend towards the unitarization of the state structure. The final part suggests ways to optimize federal relations aimed at achieving the necessary balance between the interests of centralization and regional autonomy. This involves taking into account factors that are critically important for ensuring sustainable state development and preserving the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation.