The Impact of Putin's Federative Reforms on Democratization in Russia

Abstract

An American specialist on Russian politics and federalism examines the democratizing effects, intended and unintended, of President Vladimir Putin's federative reforms. Focus is on the "harmonization" of regional constitutions and legislation with federal laws and the RF Constitution in the name of the "reintegration of Russia's legal space." On the basis of detailed analysis of changes in regional constitutions and laws ensuing from the harmonization policy, the author assesses the impact of this aspect of the reforms on democratization in Russia's regions. Regional issues examined include the separation and balance of power between the executive and legislative branches, political and civil rights, the level of demand for democratic laws and independent judicial review, and the emergence of stakeholders of these reforms within civil society.

Institutions and forest tenure in the Russian forest policy

“…Hahn (2005) points out that "the success or failure of Russia's into a stable state with viable markets and democracy will depend much on the establishment of balanced and effective federal system". The problem is the lack of such experience and knowledge that is needed to develop national identity, democratize, establish a market economy and build a state simultaneously (Hahn 2005). This challenge is well-known also in the forest sector: in the 1990s there were several failed attempts of decentralisation that were followed by a phase of re-centralisation of all decision making powers (Article I).…”

“…Officially, the centralisation was justified by increasing need of national unity that was fractured in the 1990s. Hahn (2003) on the other hand argues that after the extensive and partly uncontrollable decentralisation of political and economic power at least some gathering of Russia's many virtually independent regions became necessary. Strategic measures taken consisted of legal and institutional reforms, such as the establishment of seven federal districts and the reorganisation of the federal administration as well as the harmonisation of regional normative with the federal legislation (Hashim 2005).…”

Russian forest policy in the turmoil of the changing balance of power

“…Similarly, Orttung (2004) anticipates the weakening of the state handing power to rapacious corporations which then gain control of larger regional empires. As the regional political and economic elites were so closely integrated in the past, they were able to seize local power and property when the Soviet system collapsed (Hahn, 2003). Sutela (2003) claims the degree of symbiosis of politics and economy is even higher at the regional than the national level.…”

“…During the political battle for power, Yeltsin had encouraged and promised the regions to btake as much sovereignty as you can stomachQ (Sutela, 2003). The strengthened position of the regions characterised the Constitution and the years of the Yeltsin governance, as the republics and regions appropriated many of the federal organs and functions located in their regions (Hahn, 2003). Hahn (2003) argues further that after the extensive and partly uncontrollable decentralisation of political and economic power at least some dgatheringT of Russia's many virtually independent regions became necessary.…”

“…The strengthened position of the regions characterised the Constitution and the years of the Yeltsin governance, as the republics and regions appropriated many of the federal organs and functions located in their regions (Hahn, 2003). Hahn (2003) argues further that after the extensive and partly uncontrollable decentralisation of political and economic power at least some dgatheringT of Russia's many virtually independent regions became necessary. During Vladimir Putin's presidency, the government has pursued the consolidation of the national political unity and the strengthening of the economy.…”