Russian federalism and a new spatial development strategy

The adoption of a new Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation (SDS-2024) at the end of 2024 did not justify the hopes that this development would fully compensate for the lack of a national document defining a strategic vision for the prospects of its federal structure. SDS-2024 contains a number of interesting and important initiatives in this area, but they are not specific enough and do not form a system-wide vision of the future of Russian federalism. The article analyzes some current issues related to federal relations in Russia and possible options for improving federal relations in the course of economic, socio-political and institutional reforms. The study is based on a critical analysis of documents of strategic planning at the federal level, institutional and instrumental support for the implementation of the federal spatial development policy. It is justified that the currently formally positioned set of institutions and instruments of spatial development (macro regions, geostrategic territories, promising centers of economic growth, etc.) lacks sufficient internal consistency and comprehensiveness; their place in the economic and legal mechanism of federal relations and regional development management has not been definitively determined, as well as targets and mechanisms for their implementation. In turn, we can realize the potential of key settlements only if we develop adequate forms and mechanisms for their integration into agglomeration processes in Russia’s regions, and if there are conditions and sources for ensuring their self-development as economic centers for the adjacent territories. It is shown that achieving a balance of priorities for the leveling and economic growth of Russian regions is possible only on the basis of the development and implementation of a long-term strategy of Russian federalism and its spatial characteristics. Scientific novelty of the research is related not only to the analysis carried out, but also to the priorities developed by the author for the implementation of this strategy, taking into account the challenges facing the country