Federalism and regional discontent in post-Soviet Russia: The case of Yukutia/Sakha

The breakup of the USSR along ethno-federal lines prompted widespread speculation that the newly-independent Russian Federation would suffer a similar fate. This paper challenges this notion and discusses the probability that Russia will maintain its integrity. I have examined the history and nature of Soviet federalism, as well as recent developments in Russian federalism. The case study of Russia-Sakha/Yakutia relations from colonization to 1993 indicates the position and intentions of Russian ethno-federal components. Federal relations in Russia have changed qualitatively since the Soviet era and constituent units have acquired significantly more autonomy. Regional separatism stems from economic discontent rather than ethnic differences and so political stability depends strongly on the success of economic decentralization. The evidence suggests that Russia is not in immediate danger of a USSR-like dissolution, despite the difficulty of the current political and economic transition.