Of Khans and Kremlins: Tatarstan and the Future of Ethno-Federalism in Russia

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Katherine E. Graney examines one of the most important, puzzling, and ignored developments of the post-Soviet period: the persistence of the claim to possess state sovereignty by the ethnic republic of Tatarstan, one of the constituent members of the Russian Federation. In the first book by a Western scholar in English to chronicle the efforts made by the leadership of the Russian republic of Tatarstan to build and retain state sovereignty, Graney explores the many different dimensions of Tatarstan's move to become independent.

By showing the "sovereignty project" that the Tatarstani people have begun in order to realize their vision of becoming a separate political, social, and economic entity within the Russian Federation, Graney makes the case that this Tatarstani movement will significantly influence Russia's contemporary development in important and heretofore unrecognized ways. This book provides new insight into tackling policy issues regarding inter-ethnic relations and cultural pluralism within Russia, as well as within other European nations currently facing the same policy dilemmas.

Reviews

In this outstanding study of the politics of Russia's largest minority, Kate Graney details the rise and erosion of what she calls Tatarstan's 'sovereignty project,' demonstrating how this self-limiting autonomy, rather than threatening Russia's territorial integrity, has played a positive role by imbuing Russian federalism with genuine substance. -- Mark R. Beissinger, Princeton
This is a well-crafted case study of how post-Soviet Tartarstan one of the ethnic units of the Russian Federation has defined and implemented what the author refers to as a sovereignty project and the impact it had on the Russian Federation... The book's greatest contribution is to the literature on Russian federalism. It is a welcome and long-awaited departure from the dominant rationalist accounts of Russian federalism and the predominant view that the behavior of regional (and federal) actors is merely instrumental and interest-driven. Graney's analysis allows for a more nuanced interpretation of regional political action that integrates both interests and identity as important sources of political activity. -- Gulnaz Sharafutdinova, Miami University, Ohio * The Russian Review *
Well organized and well written, this is the only book to date that offers a detailed narrative of Tatarstan's efforts to defend and extend its sovereignty. Katherine Graney is the first Western scholar to write a book in English about post-Soviet Tatarstan and the 'Tatarstan model,' which is surprising, given the importance of the topic. Graney also provides a concise overview of the evolution of federalism in Russia since 1991, including the efforts to recentralize under Putin. This timely book will be of interest to scholars of Russian politics, but also to comparative political scientists and international relations specialists interested in autonomy movements, ethno-federalism, and the evolving nature of state sovereignty in the contemporary world. -- Edward W. Walker, Executive Director, Berkeley Program in Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies, University of California Berkeley
This book has many assets and invites the reader to read more. A thorough analytical case study with a theoretical base, this study would be very useful source for those engaged in (theory-building) comparative studies. This book is recommended to scholars of the Russian Federation, post-Soviet space, and to those of federalism and ethnic relations in general. * Europe-Asia Studies *
Written by a specialist who knows Tatarstan from within, the book is useful for political scientists studying sub-state autonomy movements, the mechanics of ethno-federalism and inter-ethnic relations especially within other European nations currently facing the same policy dilemmas. * Central Eurasian Reader *

Author Bio

Katherine E. Graney is associate professor and chair of the department of government at Skidmore College.