This book is dedicated to federalism. Federalism that so much has been written and is being written about; federalism that in Russia persistently fails to meet our expectations and does not ‘want’ to fulfil the promises of a happy life. People write about federalism in different ways. There is a lot of importance in this topic, a certain spirit of arrogance, when the essence of the matter dissolves in the ‘ambiance’, and the statements are so unquestioning that few people have the determination to look at them.
This book is neither an academic treatise nor popular science. It is a reflection-essay, a genre that not only justifies but actually suggests a certain personal tone to the texts. The book is interesting and significant both for a specialist in this subject and for an impartial and inquisitive reader. As usual, external conditions are not very favourable for books like this one, but the inner need for them is great.