In this volume, experts on government examine historical as well as contemporary contexts to government structures in the United States and the states of the former U.S.S.R. Throughout, the contributors look at federalism at both local and national levels, and they try to assess how and why the two systems developed as they did. While the political history of the former Soviet Union favored a central monopoly-of-power system over a pluralism-of-separate-authority approach, this provides only part of an answer to a complex issue. Taken together the collection provides an exhaustive examination of the opportunities and obstacles presented by government structures, which reflect the need for both local autonomy and concerned action. This volume will be of concern to political figures and policymakers, constitutional experts, and political scientists.