Abstract
The very first basic definition поt ideпtifyiпg а specific science but outliлiпg tl1e
>roa
d
research spl1ere is the definition of regional studies. Апу study may Ье proved to Ье
·egio
nal
if it uses опе of the followiпg principles (or bot\1).
•
The dierentiatioп principle whicl1 meaпs the study of iпter-regional diereпces
)f the
same phenomenon.
•
The Jocalization principle whicl1 means the study of localized (i.e. clearly defined
шd
delimited on the territory) complexes of ditтerent pl1enomena.
The usage of these principles helps to study the spatial dimeпsioп of апу pl1enol
meпa.
Spatial dimension of phenomena of any origin is the matter of regional studies.
Object of political regional study is the same as iп geпeral political scieпce, i.e. po
litical
institutions, phenomena and processes. Political regional science is а result of syп
thesis
of regional and political sciences tl1e same way as political geography came into
Ьeing as а result of synthesis of political science and geography.
Political regional science is still iп the process of its formation. Even in the West it is
too early to say that such science has Ьееn clearly defшed. Russia with its unique territory
and consequentially complex regional proЬiems has а good chance to become опе of the
world's leading centers of political regional science. Political regional science is gradually
coming а scic scientic field of interdisciplinary origin with its own good prospects.
So the object of political regional science is very much the same as of political
science as it is. For its clearer definition one can use the rule of territorial dierentiatioп.
This
rule means that only phenomena characterized Ьу territorial heterogeneity Ьесоmе
objects of studies.
• Objects Ьеiпg stu,did in political regioпal science !1ave their intemal teпitorial
ditтerentiation.
If suct1 ditтeJ"etiatioп does not exist or is поt considered to Ье meaпingful
ап
object is not relevant for political regional science.
•
Political regional scieпce studies political pheпomena оп sub-пational level, i.e.
within the state. It excludes objects of interпational scale or natioпal-scale objects Ьeing
spatially homogeпeous.
The
matter of political regioпal science is а spatial dimension of political pl1e-
nomeпa. This matter includes.
•
Political relations tween ceпtre (national level) and regioпs (sub-пatioпal le
vels). Such
relations make up vertical dimeпsion iп political regional science;
• Spatially heterogeneous political phenomena in regions, i.e. lюrizontal dimeп-
sioп
of political regional science.
Suice it to mention that horizoпtal dimension deals with Ьoth ditтerences of politi
cal
phenomena from place to place (ditтerentiation principle) and localized complexes of
political phenomena (localization prjnciple).
AbJtract
Political regional scieпce is close to comparative political science. But usually com
parative litical science deals with cross-national studies. Political regional science deals
with cro-gional comparative studies on sub-national level.
State
territory is studied Ьу three iЬle ways.
• Territorial heterogeneity.
• Territorial hierarchy.
• Territorial development.
Political regional science needs to make order in its terms meang
elements
of ter
ritorial structure (geo-structure). It is important cause the ve words "regional
science"
derive from one of such terms. Region seems to the most relevant
definition.
Saking
about regions one can identify territories delimited according to ceain criteria
and sepa
rated from the other territoes (i.e. other regions). Region is а conventional integrity
and at
the same time it is а pa of higher-leve\ integrity. This denition is used to
identi and
delimit any pa of the land using ceain criteria.
Regions have narrow and broad meanings. Political gions in its narrow meaning
are administrative units of rst sub-national level. But it does not mean that political
gional science deals with administrative division only. Political administrative region of the
ft order is the main formal (i.e. ocially defined Ьу law) unit of political space in any
state. Such units are always taken into consideration Ьу researche.
In broader sense political region is а part of state territory with its certain litical
qualities.
• Formal region exists de jure ing administrative unit.
•
Informal region is defшed Ьу scientists according to results of their studies (the
existence and rde of such regions are subject ofscientic discuions).
• Vemacular region is dened Ьу ordinary ople and oen constitutes the pa of
their identity.
Structuring of political space is called regionalization. Regionalition is Ьoth the
proce of territorial structuring and sult of this proce such as heterogeneous horizontal
structure and veical hierarchy (regional, or territorial, stratication).
Political science has poant denition useful for studies of social and regional
stratications. It is plural society identied Ьу Arend Lijpha. According to Lijphart politi
cal contradictions iп plural society coincide with social cleavages. Lijphart descris society
ing divided into segments - rather closed and staЬle communities with their litical and
social characteristics. Plural society is not always multi-ethnic. Segments of religious and
cla and other origin also exist. l this segments create consociate democracy within plu
ral society. Territorial segments, or regional communities, constitute one kind of segments.
Territorial segments a gions in its informal sense. There are ethno-cu\tura\, socio
economic and natul-geographic facto of politica\ regionalization.
In litical regional science we use comparative, system and structul-functional
approaches. These approaches comЬine with those acquired from geogphy. The Iatter are
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