Russian President Vladimir Putin has increasingly relied on expansionist, militaristic foreign policy in his 25-year rule to centralize power and justify the dissolution of Russian federalism. Moscow has stripped regional governments of the power to economically and socially self-develop, leaving them only able to compete over which region can most effectively militarize in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The threat of reprisal and Kremlin-facilitated corruption means that regional leaders will support imperial policies prioritizing territorial expansion at the expense of internal development. Moscow is unlikely to voluntarily abandon its invasion of Ukraine as it serves as a distraction from problems at home and justifies increased consolidation of Moscow’s authority over the regions.
Militarization of Regional Policy Leads to Decline of Federalism in Russia – Jamestown
