1.4. THE COURSE
Further Thoughts
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It is difficult to say in what form movement
toward new
Russian integration will be taking place, moreover to
imagine this movement in the parameters of time. We tried
to
show the key elements of this process and noted the links
between them. It seems necessary to additionally express
some general ideas.
1. It should not be believed that, even
given all the
aforesaid conditions, the concept of reintegration will
be
met by mutual understanding from all the territories at
once. From the point of view of the federal authorities,
it
would be thus reasonable to orient oneself not toward all,
but only toward the majority of the territories, at least
the regions which are most powerful economically. There
is
no doubt that given the right policies of the federal
territories and a correctly acting federal power, all the
other territories will soon consider it possible to join
the
federative union.
2. It seems to be reasonable to begin with
one or several
"crystallization nuclei". These are the regions
which have
realized the aforesaid tasks and already begun acting.
3. Interregional associations will first
be (or already are)
of economic nature. The experience of "crystallization
nuclei" is worth being spread within the framework
of such
interregional associations. It will speed up the solution
of
the problems of new integration by the territories.
4. The territories joined in a federation
should be subjects
on one level. (This statement should not be understood as
if
one should urgently try to achieve a uniformity. On the
contrary, the path toward it should be a long and, what
is
most important, voluntary one). Any subject of the new
federation should recognize this, as any inequality will
be
inadmissible here. Given correct policies
of the
authorities, and free development of cultures, there won't
be any large problems.
5. At present it is necessary to maintain
a connection with
the Centre through federal legislative bodies. Today this
is
ensured during the work of the congresses of People's
Deputies and thus (at least for the nearest future) that
body should not be dissolved. A future federalist party
should do everything it can so that people who are respected
locally and whose opinions are respected should be elected
to the federal legislative body.
6. We should not think, however, that the
new federation
should be rapidly constituted. In any case, it seems to
us
that it stands to reason to consider the new Federation
Treaty as a prototype of the Constitution of the new Russia,
as the most important intermediary stage on the way to it.
Because the federation should be regulated not by the
Treaty, but by a Constitution.
The following principles can be proposed
as a basis for this
document:
STATE CONCEPT: NEW FEDERALISM.
SOCIAL IDEA: JUSTICE AND PUBLIC CONSENSUS.
SOCIAL GOAL: SECURITY, WELFARE AND DIGNITY
OF THE CITIZENS.
ECONOMIC PRINCIPLE: LIMITATION OF STATE
INVOLVEMENT.
FOREIGN POLICY STRATEGY: EQUAL AMONG THE
STRONGEST.
DEFENCE DOCTRINE: OPTIMALLY MOBILE PROFESSIONAL
ARMY, SUPPORTED BY THE FORCES OF NUCLEAR DETERRENCE.
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