Federalism in Russia After 1991
| Published date | 01 April 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/00208817231167967 |
| Author | Rachit Srivastava |
| Date | 01 April 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Research Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/00208817231167967
International Studies
60(2) 197 –208, 2023
© 2023 Jawaharlal Nehru University
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DOI: 10.1177/00208817231167967
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Research Article
Federalism in Russia
After 1991
Rachit Srivastava1
Abstract
This article examines the federalization process and the spread of federalism in
Russia after 1991. The Russian federal system has undergone several changes
since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It arose as a result of several contracts
signed between the federal government and the subjects. The federal structure of
Russia is asymmetric and characterized by conflicts due to the system of division
of power between the federal government and the subjects. The creation of
an institutional mechanism was done to facilitate the application of the federal
principles effectively. The President’s full control over political affairs, foreign
policy and the economy can harm the successful development of the federal
state in Russia.
Keywords
Federation, federalism, intergovernmental relations, federalization, subject
Introduction
After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Russia began the process of federalization.
Republics, regions and central authorities created a system of intergovernmental
relations that reflected the principles of compromise, cooperation and balance. A
federal system was already present in the USSR and therefore, for establishing
federal democracy, it was necessary to adopt an authentic model of federalism.
The current structure of the Russian Federation has arisen from deliberations and
discussions in various Russian federal units. Different political experiments were
carried out during the transition phase in Russia. The transition to a federal
democratic system gave the subjects of the federation certain autonomy in the
matters of economic policy and the creation of regional laws. Several agreements
1Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Corresponding author:
Rachit Srivastava, Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi 110067, India.
E-mail: rachit.srivastava01@gmail.com
198 International Studies 60(2)
were signed between the central government and the federal units to resolve the
problems related to the division of power. However, when the federal government
realized that its powers were weakening, it began to concentrate power by eroding
the autonomy of different federal units.
Conceptual Framework
Daniel J. Elazar differentiated between federation and federalism. Federation is
the basic idea necessary for shaping a state’s structures. It has two vital
characteristics:
1. A federation needs to have at least two different levels of government,
which are self-standing.
2. Every level of government possesses some areas under its jurisdiction.
On the other hand, federalism is a philosophy or notion that offers ample space for
diversity and unity. It is a fluid, complicated and ever-changing relationship
driven by many processes. It is enigmatic as well as formative in nature. A political
culture that fosters a stable democratic government is essential for the success of
federalism. The idea of political culture links the notion of federalism with
democracy through the construction of political relations and beliefs. This helps
in the practical application of federal principles in the functioning of government.
The Constitution plays a very important role in determining the structures and
functions of federal institutions. The powers and functions are shared between
various levels of government according to the constitutional provisions. Judiciary
of federal states is entrusted with the power to protect the Constitution and resolve
the intergovernmental conflicts. All the federal states usually have a bicameral
legislature (Elazar, 1987).
The Constitution plays an important role in a federal system as it allocates the
powers to various organs and levels of government and assigns their functions.
Protection of the Constitution and preservation of the constitutional laws are
given utmost importance in a federation because various federal institutions
derive their powers and authority from the Constitution. Judiciary plays a crucial
role in preserving the constitutional laws and settling the conflicts between various
intergovernmental institutions. The citizens of a federal state are bound by the
laws and rules made by both the federal and regional governments (Sawer, 1976).
There are various models of federalism that can be found in different countries
of the world. These models can be classified as follows:
1. Asymmetrical federalism: Asymmetrical federalism advocates a kind of
federal system in which there is an unequal distribution of powers among
different subjects within the federation. Usually, this kind of asymmetry
arises due to different demands of the subjects in a federation, fear of
secession and national security concerns. Hence, an asymmetrical federal
system strives to accommodate the diverse demands of the subjects and
preserve the unity of the nation (Burgess & Gress, 1999).
Srivastava 199
2. Quasi federalism: This model prescribes a type of federal structure in
which the federal government possesses more powers than the federal
units. In a quasi-federal state, the subjects are subordinate to the federal
government and they are highly dependent on it.
3. Executive federalism: Executive federalism focuses on the role of the
executive in the functioning of a federal system. Intergovernmental
relations are conducted by the representatives elected by the people at
various levels of government.
4. Parliamentary federalism: Parliamentary federalism stresses upon the
Parliament’s role in strengthening the federal structure of the country and
ensuring its smooth functioning. In a parliamentary federation, the
judiciary has an important role to play in keeping the federal institutions
in order.
5. Cooperative federalism: Cooperative federalism is a kind of federal
arrangement where different levels of government cooperate with each
other in resolving issues of common interest. Coordination and cooperation
among various levels of government (federal, provincial, local) are its
important features.
6. Coercive federalism: In a coercive federal system, the relationship between
various levels of government is marred by coercion. The federal
government and regional governments compete with each other to get
hold of political power. There is minimum coordination between different
levels of government and the federal government often acts as a hegemon
(Wheare, 1946).
Except for the Parliamentary and cooperative federalism, the Russian federal
system has the elements of all the other models of federalism that are mentioned
above. The office of the President holds almost all the powers and different federal
units in Russia have different kinds of relations with the federal government based
on the amount of power they possess.
Historical Background
The history of federalism in Russia can be traced back to the Soviet era. After the
collapse of the Russian Empire and the October Revolution of 1917, various
ethnic groups and nationalities were inherited by the Soviet Union. These ethnic
groups wanted to create their own countries, ignoring the efforts of the Bolsheviks
to unite. The USSR came into existence in 1922 after several states voluntarily
came together. Since various ethnic minorities were settled in a large portion of
Soviet territory, Lenin authorized them to have some autonomy over their internal
affairs (Aspaturian, 1950). This was the first instance of asymmetric power
distribution among the subjects of the Soviet Union.
The creators of the Soviet Constitution wanted to establish the proletariat’s
dictatorship without aggravating the self-determined nationalities and ethnic
groups. The Soviet government strived to mix authoritarian practices with federal
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