Federalization in Russia and Spain: The Puzzle of Reversible and Irreversible Outcomes

“This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Regional & Federal Studies on 2013, available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13597566.2012.742071”.
The article aims at contributing to the understanding of the dynamics of federalismin Russia and Spain. It traces the dynamics of decentralization in both states and addresses a puzzle on reversible (Russia) and irreversible (Spain) outcomes of territorial reforms and regime transition. Among other explanatory factors, this article argues that the role of the political parties as mediating actors—proactive or reactive—has been crucial in shaping institutional building in both countries. Concluding remarks envisage some scenarios of further territorial developments in comparative perspective.