Revolutionary new Russian regionalism
The announced regional reform of Russian Minister of Regional Development, Dmitrii Kozak, has the contents and consequences of a revolution. Analysts doubt it ever will be implemented.
Mr. Kozak, the new head of an enforced Ministry of Regional Development, has prepared the platform for what analysts have labelled “a new Russian regionalism”. In a conference in Krasodar in January this year, the minister said Russia should be divided into 7-10 economic super-regions.
The basis for the reform, the minister said, is the major social and economic divides between the Russian federal subjects. With the merging of the subjects, the differences will decrease, he argued.
At the same time, the minister admitted that the reform is currently on a zero level of development. He gave himself two years to implement the reform.
A number of analysts remain however sceptical towards the reform. According to the Nezavisimaya Gazeta, the changing of the administrative borders between federal subjects will trigger major controversies. The newspaper proposes leave the administrative structure of the country and instead create so-called programme regions, where joint economic efforts and initiatives between the subjects can take place.
Read more:
Russia might get new super-regions BarentsObserver, 6 February 2008
“New concept for Russian regional politics” BarentsObserver, 5 February 2008
The new Russian regional policy BarentsObserver, 31 January 2008
