PARADIPLOMACY OF RUSSIAN REGIONS: FEATURES AND LIMITATIONS (as illustrated by the Sverdlovsk region)[Парадипломатия Российских Регионов: Возможности И Ограничения (На Примере Свердловской Области)]

Introduction. For three decades, the subjects of the Russian Federation have been participants in international relations, establishing international, foreign economic, cross-border cooperation with foreign partners. What are the opportunities and limitations of the international activities of the Russian regions? Have they transformed during this period? If so, in which direction and what was the reason for this? The purpose of this article is to find answers to these questions. Methodology. The conceptual basis of this study is the concept of paradiplomacy. The methodological basis of the study was the approach of Manuel Duran. The researcher suggests studying four aspects relevant to the study of the role of subnational government (powers, capabilities, abilities and presence). Methods. From the view point of the research design, the article is a case study, because it is based on the method of studying specific cases (case-study). The Sverdlovsk region was chosen as the object of the research. Results. Summarizing the results of the analysis of the Sverdlovsk region’s paradiplomacy, the author comes to the conclusion that Russian regions enter into international / foreign economic agreements, but only with the subjects of foreign federal states, administrative-territorial entities of foreign states. Secondly, the subjects of the Russian Federation take part in the work of international organizations, but only with those created specifically for these purposes. Thirdly, the regions also communicate with foreign states authorities, but only with the consent of the Government of the Russian Federation. Fourthly, the subjects of the Russian Federation open their representative offices outside the country, but in agreement with the Russian Foreign Ministry. Finally, the authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation create institutions of paradiplomacy, which is expressed in the activities of regional ministries whose task is to assist in the developing international cooperation. Conclusions. The author outlines possibilities and limitations of paradiplomacy at the legislative level. Informally, the heads of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation should be guided by the foreign policy line formulated by the head of the state. On a number of foreign policy events, certain Russian governors can take a firmer position than the federal center.