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Books by Grigory Yavlinsky
NIZHNI NOVGOROD PROLOGUE
Economics and Politics in Russia
The Center for Economic and Political Research (EPIcenter)
Nizhni Novgorod-Moscow, 1992
 
SECTION ONE
RUSSIA - THE SEARCH FOR POINTS OF REFERENCE
CHAPTER 1. FEDERALISM IN PLACE OF COMMUNISM.

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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