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Classical ethnic federation model and atypical ethnofederations

Farukshin M.Kh.,

Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia, Midkhat.Farukshin@kpfu.ru

elibrary_id: 106738 | ORCID: 0000-0003-0004-4559 | RESEARCHER_ID: F-1811-2017

Article received: 2025.06.19 21:39. Accepted: 2025.12.24 21:39


DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2026.02.08
EDN: NTXSYN

Rubric: Theory and methodology of political studies

For citation:

Farukshin M.Kh. Classical ethnic federation model and atypical ethnofederations. – Polis. Political Studies. 2026. No. 2. https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2026.02.08. EDN: NTXSYN (In Russ.)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of twelve federations, that Russian and foreign scholars commonly classify as ethnic federations – Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Spain, Canada, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Switzerland, Ethiopia. The main research task was to identify the essential features of the classical ethnic federation model and, on this basis, to distinguish it from the so-called atypical ethnofederations. The first part of the article critically examines the definition of an ethnic federation, which has become widespread in Russian and international political science, as a state in which the subjects of the federation are created following ethno-territorial principles. This approach unduly narrows the idea of an ethnic federation, impoverishes its cognition, and essentially excludes the analysis of its other equally important features. Attention is drawn to the differentiation of ethnic federations by L. Anderson, who described hybrid ethnofederations occupying an intermediate position between the ethnic and territorial federations, and also identified two subtypes under the general category of “ethnic federalism”: ethnic and ethno-territorial federations. This conceptual idea is subjected to critical evaluation. In the second part of the article an alternative analystical approach is proposed, which consists in identifying five essential features of the classical ethnofederation and determining the degree of similarity of each of the twelve named federations with the features of the classical ethnic federation. As the result of the study, it is concluded that only five of the twelve federations meet the criteria of a classical ethnofederation. The degree of similarity of other ones with the classical model varies from one to four. The Russian Federation should not be considered ethnic. The role of the ethnic factor in the field of the federal structure of present-day Russia is limited and does not threaten the integrity and stability of the Russian state.

Keywords

federalism, ethnic federalism, territorial federalism, subjects of federation, ethnic representation, dominant ethnic group, ethnic minorities, ethno-regional parties.

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