Sociologists from Yekaterinburg propose that modern federalism be treated as a not purely legal and economic, but also humanitarian phenomenon. In the authors’ opinion, solution of most complicated tasks involved in the constructing of democratic federative relations in post-Soviet Russia might be greatly promoted by inclusion of principles and mechanisms of social partnership into the sphere of regulation of the said relations. Objective and subjective preconditions are characterized, necessary for such inclusion. And the first among these preconditions is maturing of Russian civil society which is too young thus far.