Autonomy is a topic that requires deep study

In December 2017 will be 95 years from the date of formation of the USSR – States, which lasted nearly 69 years. During the Soviet Union emphasized the unanimous and voluntary entry of the fraternal republics in the USSR. After the collapse of this part of our history is presented in the textbooks differently. Some researchers argue that one of the main reasons for the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was the autonomy. This opinion is not unfounded. Let's find out why.

Formation of the independent republics

After coming to power of the Bolsheviks they immediately adopted several important decrees, including the Declaration that provided the peoples of Russia the right to establish independent States. This right was used by the Finns, Latvians, poles, Ukrainians, Estonians, and other peoples who were previously subjects of the Russian Empire, now gained independence.

In early 1918, the third Congress of Soviets legislated Federal principle with broad autonomy for those peoples that wish to remain part of the RSFSR. This approach, on the one hand, deprived of the nationalist movement on the outskirts of the former Empire of the main reasons to continue the struggle, and on the other, have struck at the great-power idea, which was cultivated in Russia until October 1917.

However, during the Civil war, several of the young Soviet republics have joined the armed forces, Finance, communications and transport for the common defense and subsequent recovery of the economy. In the early 20-ies of the future of such a military-economic Union caused great debate. In General, it was suggested three options for the Union: Confederation, Federation and autonomy. This was one of the tasks of government in need of a speedy solution.

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Federation on Lenin

The Leaders of some Soviet republics, wishing to retain independence, proposed the creation of a Confederation where there would be a unified state governments. But Lenin, who enjoyed enormous prestige in the Soviet government, criticized the idea of the Confederacy, believing that such a state would be too weak links between the national republics.

However, Lenin did not agree with Stalin's proposal, according to which, autonomy – the unification of the Soviet republics within the Russian Federation as an Autonomous (independent and equal) members. Lenin was a supporter of the Federal structure of the Soviet Union. He actually came up with this name for a future state.

The Federation is, Lenin thought, to a multinational country is the most acceptable form of Association. Such state-political structure would provide equal rights to all republics, including the right to secede from the Soviet Union. In the Federation should not be excessive centralism and great-power chauvinism.

Stalin's plan of autonomy

In 1922, Stalin occupied the post of people's Commissar of RSFSR on Affairs of nationalities. He headed the party-state Commission that developed a draft law, which received in history the name "autonomy plan".

Under the bill, three Soviet republics - Belarus, Ukraine and the Transcaucasian Federation (Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia) were to become an autonomy within the Russian Federation.

In fact, Stalin proposed the creation of a unitary state with unified for all the republics with the highest authorities and the legal system. In other words, the Central leadership had to play a decisive role in all spheres of life of the Union republics, which were actually lost internal sovereignty.

The Union

On 30 December 1922 by the delegation of the Soviet republics signed a Treaty of Alliance and a Declaration, which proclaimed the formation of the USSR. In these documents it was stated that only questions of foreign trade and policy, defence, communications and Finance will be administered by Central government bodies. The solution of other cases remained in the competence of national authorities.

Thus, the basis of creation of the USSR was based on the Leninist principles of the sovereignty and equality, however, as time has shown, only formally. In fact, the rights of the Union republics gradually eroded, and the state becomes unitary. Very soon the Stalinist autonomization, the Soviet Union began to materialize.

What?

The cause of some ethnic conflicts that emerged at the turn of 80-90-ies in the USSR and after its disintegration in the post-Soviet space, should be sought in the Soviet era.

Of Course, these problems cannot be blamed only on the principles of autonomy, the party leadership laid the Foundation of the state national policy. Before the revolution in this sphere were no better. However, the infringement of the sovereign rights of the republics could not pass unnoticed.

The period of the Soviet history, when preparations were underway for the creation of the Soviet Union, studied a little while, as Stalin's autonomy. This leads to inconsistent estimates of the current political relations between the former once the Soviet republics and in any case notconducive to a peaceful solution of existing international conflicts.