I see that they are called federal subjects to Russia but I’m not really sure what that means. I see that there are 20 other republics within Russia. Is their ability to operate more autonomously than other areas including krais and oblasts give them the title of “Republic” and do they operate similarly to countries within the United Kingdom?
In: Culture
> Is their ability to operate more autonomously than other areas including krais and oblasts give them the title of “Republic”
Yes, that’s the theory. The Russian Federation is made up of different types of federal subjects, with different powers. Unlike say the USA where there is only one type of state. I know the US also has territories, but the point is they aren’t members of the union.
Krais and oblasts are the basic type of federal subjects. Republics have a bit more autonomy than them as they are allowed their own constitutions and official languages. Generally republics are places where there is a native non-Russian ethnic group, even if ethnic Russians are the majority. There are some other types of federal subjects too, I’m not sure of the exact differences.
I don’t think there’s that much similarity with the UK’s countries. The UK isn’t a federation, so the UK Parliament has full jurisdiction over the entire UK, even though Scotland, Wales and NI also have their own governments. But since Russia is officially a federation, the power of the central government is limited *in theory*. Although in practice I’m pretty sure Putin can do whatever he wants.
Russia is organized kind of like the United States, but with the distinction that it has two kinds of states; Oblasts and Republics. The Republics are essentially large areas that have historically been dominated by a given non-Russian ethnic group. On paper, the Republics are supposed to enjoy a little more autonomy than the Oblasts, but in practice (particularly under Putin) they’re functionally no different than the Oblasts.
Latest Answers