L. R. Rustamova, J. de J. Calderon Anton. Specifics of Russian Paradiplomacy in the Post-Soviet Space

https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.129.033.202504.578-593
EDN: https://elibrary.ru/ljuzfa
УДК / UDC 327.3(470+571)

Abstract

Introduction. The start of a special military operation in 2022 led to a rethinking of the priorities for the development of subnational foreign relations and an aggravation of the problem of lack of interaction with Russia's closest partners, the former territories of the USSR, which actualizes the study of the features of the paradiplomacy in the post-Soviet space. The purpose of the article is to study the specifics of paradiplomatic relations with the regions of the former Soviet republics and their participation in the development of integration processes.

Materials and Methods. The empirical basis of the study was formed by the available publications on the topic of interregional relations, the main documents regulating paradiplomatic relations, as well as materials from the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, institutional platforms through which external relations between regions and cities are carried out. The following methods are applied: historical and descriptive, comparative and qualitative content analysis.

Results. It has been revealed that the transition of the regions from solving purely practical development issues within the framework of a paradigm shift to participating in integration projects began after the growing interdependence required progressive movement towards the introduction of further mechanisms for the freedom of movement of people, goods and services. After 2022, the regions became more actively involved in paradiplomacy with the countries of the former Soviet Union, because they could help compensate for the lost supplies of goods, as well as fill the gap in cultural and leisure activities. It is determined that the objective prerequisites for interest in paradiplomacy in the post-Soviet space were the growth of interaction with business structures and societies in the wake of relocation, as well as demand from government structures.

Discussion and Conclusion. The events of 2022 showed that there are significant limitations to paradiplomacy as a tool for influencing international relations, but it is a real tool for moving integration from below, through the involvement of local governments in solving common problems in the field of governance, socio-economic and problems related to cross-border threats in the post-Soviet space. The factors of trust in regional players as intermediaries of integration are the participation of representatives of non-governmental structures in projects of paradiplomacy, their focus on solving common development problems, taking into account territorial specifics. The results of the work can form the basis for further research, and will also be useful in developing foreign policy decisions by ministries and departments responsible for regional foreign relations in the post-Soviet space.

Keywords: paradiplomacy, sister cities, post-Soviet space, integration, socio-economic standard of living of the population, public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Rustamova L.R., Calderon Anton J.deJ. Specifics of Russian Paradiplomacy in the Post-Soviet Space. Russian Journal of Regional Studies. 2025;33(4):578–593. https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.129.033.202504.578-593

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About the authors:

Leili R. Rustamova, Cand.Sci. (Polit.), Researcher at the Center for Post-Soviet Studies, Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences (23 Profsoyuznaya St., Moscow 117997, Russian Federation), ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9803-9904, Scopus ID: 56469579000, SPIN-code: 2941-9393, leili-rustamova@yandex.ru

Josе de Jesus Calderon Anton, PhD candidate, Research Assistant, University of Seville (4 San Fer-nando St., Seville 41004, Spain), ORCID: http://orcid.org/0009-0008-2877-3036, joscalant@alum.us.es

Contribution of the authors:

L. R. Rustamova – conceptualization; methodology; visualization; investigation, data collection; writing – original draft preparation (including substantive translation).

J. de J. Calderón Antón – investigation, data collection; writing – original draft preparation (including substantive translation).

Availability of data and materials. The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the authors on reasonable request.

The authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 20.08.2025; revised 04.09.2025; accepted 11.09.2025.