Transformation of the political status of the subnational units of the Russian Federation in the context of centralization
https://doi.org/10.31249/poln/2025.03.12
Abstract
In the article, based on the analysis of the existing works on the status of the constituent units of the state and related studies of Russian federalism, as well as the presented list of status indicators, which include two main groups of characteristics: formal norms and resources (economic, political, cultural), an attempt is made to quantitatively measure the political status of the subjects of the Russian Federation and analyze its dynamics for the period from 1998 to 2021. Despite the widespread thesis that Russian republics had a special position exclusively in the 1990s–2000s and that this position was lost in the process of centralization policy in the 2000s–2010s, the analysis shows that the majority of the Russian subjects retained their political status at the same level, and in some cases increased it, which, however, was possible due to the transformation of the very concept of political status in the period under consideration, in which the loss of formal indicators due to centralization processes is compensated by the growth of resource indicators of status – mainly economic and cultural.
References
1. Alexander J. Federal reforms in Russia: Putin's challenge to the republics. Demokratizatsiya. 2004, N 12 (2), P. 233–263.
2. Anderson L.M. Exploring the paradox of autonomy: federalism and secession in North America. Regional & Federal studies. 2004, N 14 (1), P. 89–112.
3. Ashikhmina Y.G., Podvintsev O.B. Political markers in the positioning of the regions of the Russian Federation. Vestnik of Perm University. Series: Political Science. 2014, N 4 (28), P. 167–176. (In Russ.)
4. Bakke K.M. Decentralization and intrastate struggles: Chechnya, Punjab, and Québec. Cambridge: Cambridge university press, 2015, 322 p.
5. Cohen J.E., Powell R.J. Building public support from the grassroots up: The impact of presidential travel on state‐level approval. Presidential studies quarterly. 2005, N 35 (1), P. 11–27.
6. Doherty B.J. POTUS on the road: international and domestic presidential travel, 1977– 2005. Presidential studies quarterly. 2009, N 39 (2), P. 322–346.
7. Forsberg T., Heller R., Wolf R. Status and emotions in Russian foreign policy. Communist and post-communist studies. 2014, N 47 (3–4), P. 261–268.
8. Goldstein E. The politics of the state visit. The hague journal of diplomacy. 2008, N 3 (2), P. 153–178.
9. Golosov G.V., Konstantinova M. Gubernatorial powers in Russia: The transformation of regional institutions under the centralizing control of the federal authorities. Problems of post-communism. 2016, N 63 (4), P. 241–252.
10. Jarocińska E. Intergovernmental grants in Russia. Economics of transition. 2010, N 18 (2), P. 405–427.
11. Kononenko P.B. Political factors of constitutional construction in the republics of the Russian Federation. Polis. Political studies. 2003, N 6, P. 135–143. (In Russ.) Lapidus G.W. Contested sovereignty: the tragedy of Chechnya. International security. 1998, N 23 (1), P. 5–49.
12. Nelson L.D., Kuzes I.Y. Political and economic coordination in Russia's federal district reform: A study of four regions. Europe-Asia studies. 2003, N 55 (4), P. 507–520.
13. Pascal E. Defining Russian Federalism. Westport, Connecticut, London: Praeger, 2003, 209 p.
14. Pu X., Schweller R.L. Status signaling, multiple audiences, and China’s blue-water naval ambition. In: Paul T.V., Larson D.W., Wohlforth W.C. (eds). Status in world politics. Cambridge: Cambridge university press, 2014, P. 141–162.
15. Sambanis N., Milanovic B. Explaining regional autonomy differences in decentralized countries. Comparative political studies. 2014, N 47 (13), P. 1830–1855.
16. Sharafutdinova G., Turovsky R. The politics of federal transfers in Putin’s Russia: regional competition, lobbying, and federal priorities. Post-Soviet affairs. 2017, N 33 (2), P. 161–175.
17. Shugart M.S., Carey J.M. Presidents and assemblies: constitutional design and electoral dynamics. Cambridge: Cambridge university press, 1992, 316 p.
18. Volgy T.J., Corbetta R., Rhamey J.P., Baird R.G., Grant K.A. Status considerations in international politics and the rise of regional powers. In: Paul T.V., Larson D.W.,
19. Wohlforth W.C. (eds). Status in world politics. Cambridge: Cambridge university press, 2014, P. 58–84.
20. Yuzbekova K.Sh. Status of subnational unit of the state: definition and ways of measurement. Journal of political philosophy and sociology of politics “Polity. Analyses. Chronicle. Prognosis”. 2024, N 4 (115), P. 187–204. (In Russ.)
Supplementary files
Review
Views:
19
Email this article 
Post a Comment 