Federal Pendulum
Russia’s Centre and Its Regions
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Russia’s development is reflected in the relationship between the centre and the regions and in the political and economic processes at the regional level. In the tension between the centre and the regions, the pendulum has gravitated steadily towards the centre since 2000. Vladimir Putin’s centralisation of the state and the creation of a vertical structure of power to control the regions have led to a hypertrophic unity state. The price has been an enormous loss of control. There are indications that the regions are once again gaining in importance. Russia must abandon its sham federalism, without repeating the mistakes of the 1990s.
(Osteuropa 6-8/2012, pp. 251–262)