Articles

Le fédéralisme soviétique, un modèle possible pour l'Europe ?

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Abstract

Could Soviet federalism provide a pattern for a European Union ?  The similarity between the national diversity of the Soviet Union (this multinational state) and that of Europe could lead us to think so.
A careful examination of Soviet federalism reveals certain particularities which could be adapted to a federal Europe, but the most powerful element of centralisation and unity in the USSR is the Communist Party, besides
a tough political police and a common language - Russian - another cement of the Union.
Bearing in mind the present institutions of the European Community, it is difficult to imagine an evolution towards such a federal state.
Nevertheless, if some principles were applied, such as the safeguard of the common interest as well as that of the member-states, it may be hoped to go further than a timid confederation.
In such a prospect, some institutions of the Soviet Union could be taken as examples and an institutionalisation of the present «summit» conferences could be imagined to act as a European collective head of state, in the same way as the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Furthermore, Europe would need a common language and this should be a neutral one (latin or esperanto), so as to achieve among member-nations strict equality, for this is an element of success as are two other basic
principles of federalism : autonomy and participation. Since the Communist Party just would not fit within a free and democratic Europe, it is in the above principles that the Community should seek the ferments of its
union.

How to Cite:

Ferrier, R., (1975) “Le fédéralisme soviétique, un modèle possible pour l'Europe ?”, Res Publica 17(1), 79-98. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/rp.v17i1.19555