Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'federalism'

English Word: federalism

Key Russian Translations:

• федерализм [fʲɪdʲɪˈralʲɪzm] - [Formal]

Frequency: Medium (Common in political, academic, and governmental contexts, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires understanding of political terminology and basic Russian noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

федерализм: [fʲɪdʲɪˈralʲɪzm]

Note on федерализм: The stress falls on the third syllable (-ra-). Pay attention to the palatalized 'f' sound, which is common in Russian loanwords from English.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The political system or principle where power is divided between a central authority and constituent units (e.g., states or regions).

Translation(s) & Context:

• федерализм - Used in formal discussions of government structures, such as in political essays or legal documents, to describe systems like that of Russia or the USA.

Usage Examples:

• Федерализм в России позволяет регионам иметь определенную автономию при сохранении центрального контроля.

  Federalism in Russia allows regions to have a certain degree of autonomy while maintaining central control.

• Принципы федерализма защищают права субъектов Федерации от чрезмерной централизации.

  The principles of federalism protect the rights of federal subjects from excessive centralization.

• В современном мире федерализм часто обсуждается как способ урегулирования этнических конфликтов.

  In the modern world, federalism is often discussed as a way to resolve ethnic conflicts.

• Критики федерализма утверждают, что он может привести к неэффективности в принятии решений.

  Critics of federalism argue that it can lead to inefficiency in decision-making.

• Федерализм как политическая доктрина эволюционировал из идей Просвещения.

  Federalism as a political doctrine evolved from Enlightenment ideas.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

федерализм is a masculine noun (from the first declension group) and follows standard Russian noun inflection patterns. It is not irregular but requires attention to case endings, especially in formal writing. Below is a table outlining its basic inflections:

Note: The plural form is less common and used when discussing multiple instances or types of federalism.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • федерация (federation) - Often used interchangeably but more specific to the entity rather than the principle; suitable in administrative contexts.
  • децентрализация (decentralization) - Implies a similar distribution of power but with a broader focus on reducing central control.
• Antonyms:
  • централизм (centralism) - Refers to a system where power is concentrated at the center, contrasting with the decentralized nature of federalism.
  • унитарное государство (unitary state) - Describes a state with no regional autonomy, emphasizing a single central authority.

Related Phrases:

• принципы федерализма - Principles of federalism; Refers to the core ideas behind the system, often discussed in constitutional law.
• федерализм в действии - Federalism in action; Used to describe practical implementations, such as in policy debates.
• российский федерализм - Russian federalism; Highlights the specific model in Russia, including its historical evolution.

Usage Notes:

федерализм directly corresponds to the English term "federalism" and is primarily used in formal, academic, or political contexts. It emphasizes the division of powers between federal and regional levels, as seen in Russia's constitution. Be cautious with its usage in everyday speech, as it may sound overly technical. When choosing between translations, stick with федерализм for precise political discussions; avoid confusing it with федерация, which refers to the entity itself. Grammatically, always ensure correct declension based on sentence structure, such as using the genitive case after prepositions like "о" (about).

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using федерализм interchangeably with федерация.
  Correct: федерализм refers to the system or principle, while федерация means the actual union of states. Example of error: "Россия — федерализм" (incorrect, as it should be "Россия — федерация"). Explanation: This confusion arises from similar roots; clarify by context.
• Mistake: Incorrect declension, e.g., saying "в федерализм" instead of "в федерализме".
  Correct: Use the prepositional case: "в федерализме". Explanation: Russian requires case agreement, and beginners often overlook this in compound sentences.
• Mistake: Overgeneralizing to mean any form of government.
  Correct: Specify as in "принципы федерализма" to denote its specific traits. Explanation: Learners might misuse it for any decentralized system, but it's tied to federal structures.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, федерализм carries significant cultural and historical weight, stemming from the country's vast size and ethnic diversity. It was formalized in the 1993 Constitution to balance central authority with regional autonomy, addressing issues from the Soviet era. However, debates persist about its effectiveness, especially in regions like Chechnya, where federalism intersects with ethnic and separatist tensions, reflecting broader themes of national unity versus local identity.

Related Concepts:

• централизм
• децентрализация
• федерация
• конфедерация