The evolution of Russian federalism in the post-Soviet period: stages, trends, prospects

The article reveals the stages, trends and prospects for the development of Russian federalism. The relevance of the research is due to the need to find an optimal model of federal relations and to predict the future of Russian statehood. The scientific discussion is related to the problem of preserving the ethnic component in the administrative-territorial division, as well as the movement toward unitarianism and the “imperial model”. Based on a retrospective analysis, the authors identify six stages in the development of Russian federalism in the post-Soviet period: 1) the “parade of sovereignties”; 2) the construction of a contractual model of federalism; 3) the imposition of constitutional order; 4) increased centralization; 5) the struggle for the effectiveness of regional governance; 6) the expansion of the governors’ responsibility zone and the strengthening of horizontal ties between the subjects of the Russian Federation. The authors insist that, despite the difficult path, Russian statehood is built on truly federal principles: constitutionalism, distribution of powers, unity based on strong integration ties while preserving ethnic and cultural diversity.