M. I. Kolykhalov. Distribution of Powers between the Center and Regions in the Russian Federation and the Swiss Confederation

UDK 321.015(470+571+494)
DOI: 10.15507/24131407.103.026.201802.296-313

Maxim I. Kolykhalov, Postgraduate of Departament of International Relations, Siberian Institute of International Relations and Regional Studies (14 Narodnaya St., Novosibirsk 630075, Russia), ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3137-1889, Researcher ID: A-6083-2016, maxim_kolykhalov@mail.ru

Introduction. Distribution of powers between the Center and the regions is the primary task of a federative state. The problem of finding the optimal level of demarcation of areas of responsibility, as well as that of provision of appropriate budgetary powers, is relevant for the Russian Federation at the moment. In this regard, the example of the Swiss Confederation, which is a state with a rich history of federalism, is indicative and the comparative analysis of the state system of the Russian Federation and the Swiss Confederation in this area is relevant. The purpose of the paper is to outline the common features and peculiarities in the sphere of distribution of powers between the Center and the regions in Russia and Switzerland. Materials and Methods. The materials used in the study were the modern works of Russian and foreign scientists, the current legislative framework governing the distribution of powers between the Center and regions of the states. The systemic, specifically-historical, structural and functional, and comparative research methods were applied. Results. A comparative analysis of the current state of distribution of powers between the Center and the regions in the Russian Federation and the Swiss Confederation was performed. The study revealed the differences in the principles of formation of the Federation and the features of demarcation, of the status of regions in their relations with the Federal Center, of the types of demarcation of powers, of the implementation of powers at the Federal and regional levels as well as the specifics of budget federalism. Discussion and Conclusions. A comparative analysis of the distribution of powers between the Center and regions in Russia and Switzerland allows us to contribute to the assessment of the current state of federalism and regionalism in the Russian Federation. The results of the research may be used in the study of the peculiarities of the state system and federal policies of the Russian Federation, as well as in the understanding and development of new directions of regional policies.

Keywords: federative state, powers, demarcation of powers, state structure, status of a region, areas of responsibility of a region, subsidiarity

REFERENCES

1. Abdulatipov R.G., Mikhailov V.A. Federal democracy and the multinational country unity. Publichnoe i chastnoe pravo = Public and private law. 2014; 3:7-18. Available at: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=22658665 (accessed 09.04.2018). (In Russ.)

2. Farukshin M.Kh. The condition of Russian federalism: View from the region. Politicheskaja nauka = Political Science. 2011; 4:97-119. Available at: http://legacy.inion.ru/index.php?page_id=186&id=511&jid=495&jj= (accessed 09.04.2018). (In Russ.)

3. Pochta Yu.M. Development of the Russian model of federalism: Relations of center and regions in 2007-2016. Vestnik Rossijskogo universiteta druzhby narodov. Serija: Politologija = RUDN Journal of Political Science. 2016; 3:97-105. Available at: http://journals.rudn.ru/political-science/article/view/13988 (accessed 09.04.2018).

4. Medvedev N.P. Regional policy of the modern state: theory and practice. Voprosy nacionalnyh i federativnyh otnoshenij = Questions of National and Federative Relations. 2013; 2(21):118-129. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=26435276 (accessed 09.04.2018). (In Russ.)

5. Karadzhe T.V. [Geoeconomic approach as a methodology for analyzing the global peace]. Voprosy politologii = Issues of Politology. 2013; 3:5-15. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=21227191 (accessed 09.04.2018). (In Russ.)

6. Yavchunovskaya R.A. [World integration processes in post-modernization of the world order]. Evrazijskij Sojuz: voprosy mezhdunarodnyh otnoshenij = Eurasian Union: Problems of International Relations. 2016; 1(15):93-99. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=26426273 (accessed 09.04.2018). (In Russ.)

7. Nisnevich Yu.A. The Modern methods of political research. Vestnik Rossijskogo universiteta druzhby narodov. Serija: Politologija = RUDN Journal of Political Science. 2011; 2:5-16. Available at: http://journals.rudn.ru/political-science/article/view/8863 (accessed 04.09.2018). (In Russ.)

8. Bundi P., Eberli D., Buetikofer S. Between occupation and politics: Legislative professionalization in the Swiss Cantons. Swiss Political Science Review. 2017; 23(1):1-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/spsr.12228

9. Mueller S. Shared rule in federal political systems: Conceptual lessons from subnational Switzerland. The Journal of Federalism. 2014; 44(1):82-108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/publius/pjt009

10. Brown A.J. Comparative federalism and intergovernmental agreekolaev-ments: Analyzing Australia, Canada, Germany, South Africa, Switzerland and the United States. The Journal of Federalism. 2015; 45(4):E15-U24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/publius/pjv030

11. Fleiner T. Recent Developments of Swiss Federalism. The Global Review of Federalism. 2002; 32(2):97-123. Available at: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3330947 (accessed 04.09.2018).

12. Schmitt N. Linguistic policy in Switzerland: The paradigm shifts but the complexity remains. Revista de Llengua i Dret. Journal of Language and Law. 2017; 67:86-105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2436/rld.i67.2017.2941

13. Wasserfallen F. The Cooperative capacity of Swiss Federalism. Swiss Political Science Review. 2015; 21(4):538-555. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/spsr.12187

14. Schwarz P. Federalism and horizontal equity across Switzerland and Germany: A new rationale for a decentralized fiscal structure. Constitutional Political Economy. 2017; 28(2):97-116. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10602-017-9234-1

15. Ignatenko I.M. Modern stage of redistribution of powers between federal center and regions of Russia. Vestnik Povolzhskogo instituta upravlenija = Bulletin of the Volga Region Institute of Administration. 2015; 48:54-60. Available at: http://vestnik.pags.ru/vestnik/archive/vestnik-48.php (accessed 09.04.2018). (In Russ.)

16. Orlinskaya О.М. [Belgian and Swiss experience in building federal relations: A comparative analysis]. Vestnik MGOU. Serija: Istorija i politicheskie nauki = Bulletin of the Moscow Region State University. Series: History and Political Sciences. 2011; 2:234-238. Available at: http://www.vestnik-mgou.ru/Articles/View/5846 (accessed 09.04.2018). (In Russ.)

17. Klimcheva M.G., Umarova I.Ya. [Taxes in the system of fiscal federalism in Switzerland]. Vestnik RJeU = Vestnik of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. 2012; 3:95-108. Available at: https://www.rea.ru/ru/org/managements/izdcentr/Pages/metadanye2.aspx (accessed 09.04.2018). (In Russ.)

Submitted 10.04.2018; areepted for publication 11.05.2018; published online 29.06.2018.

For citation: Kolykhalov M.I. Distribution of Powers between the Center and Regions in the Russian Federation and the Swiss Confederation. Regionologiya = Regionology. 2018; 27(2):296-313. DOI: 10.15507/24131407.103.026.201802.296-313

The author has read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

To download article