Interregional integration in Russia: institutions and state administration

The paper deals with the problems of interregional horizontal integration in Russia as a perspective instrument of regional development. This thesis is considered as a conceptual alternative to the dominating focus on the regions’ competition. The author analyzes the list of subjects of interregional integration (authorities, business, associations of regions and municipalities), studies the differences between the understanding of integration as a process of market and administrative interaction. The examples proving a significant role of large business in space integration of modern Russia are given. The definition of interregional integration is worked out on the basis of studying the process essence. The factors favoring and interfering interregional integration at the present stage are analysed in detail. Special attention is paid to consideration of retrospective factors of disintegration in regions of the Russian Federation among which there were both an emergence of new territorial subjects and a rupture of former economic relations. Potential of intermunicipal level of integration as the instrument of interregional interaction is separately analysed, the keyproblems which don’t allow to realize this potential in interregional interaction now are revealed. On the basis of a research of the experience accumulated in the developed countries and taking into account the analysis of the role of administrative device and a range of measures of regulation, the conclusion is drawn that the essential role in acceleration of processes of interregional integration belongs to the factor of state and administrative regulation. The author works out a system of measures including leveling of the measures of the state complicating integration, the measures stimulating those processes as well as the measures which can help to include the capacity of the market sector and resources of selforganization in integration process.