The Administrative Ditricts in USSR

Abstract

Tho revolution of the administrative districts in USSR can be divided into three stages. The first stage was a provisional one which had lasted till the beginning of the First Five-year Plan. During that time the irrational administrative districts of tsarist Russia were reformed and, based on the principle of the self-determination of nations, many national republics came into existence. The second stage continued from the period of the Five-year plan to the year 1957 and at this period the stable administrative districts were formed for the first time. In the third stage the economic-administrative districts were established, succeeding to those of the second stage and the authorized limits of powers of each administrative district were enlarged. The features of the administrative districts in USSR are that there are both the ordinary administrative districts and the divisions based on the principle of the self-determination of nations and that each administrative district and each division of self-determination of nations is not only the united body of administration but also that of economy. Therefore, the administrative districts in USSR are the economic ones at the same time and play an important role in the economical development of USSR. At present the administrative districts are maintaining stability, but according to the future economical development the boundaries of the districts should be changed. © 1959, The Human Geographical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.