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European Centre for Research on Federalism, Tuebingen/Germany

Yearbook on Federalism 2004

Europäische Länderberichte [European country reports]

Putins Russland  Föderation ohne Föderalismus

Andreas Heinemann-Grüder

pp. 339-355

Russia's unconsolidated federal order is part of the presidential and semi-authoritarian regime. Its main features consist in de jure asymmetry, multiethnicity, executive dominance, illiberalism, and centralization of powers in the presidency. The chapter argues that Russia`s federalism in itself is not to be blamed for the democratic deficit  without a federal division of powers the democratic outcome would be even worse. Ethnic federalism is interpreted as a symbol of non-assimilation as well as an instrument of undemocratic political regimes in the regions. Although centralist and anti-federal in their intention, the impact of Putins reforms is limited by regional diversity, institutional inconsistency, and a lack of steering presidential capacity.

Suggested citation for this article:
Heinemann-Grüder, Andreas 2004: Putins Russland  Föderation ohne Föderalismus, in: Europäisches Zentrum für Föderalismus-Forschung (ed.): Jahrbuch des Föderalismus 2004. Föderalismus, Subsidiarität und Regionen in Europa, Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, p. 339-355.