The paper is dedicated to the historical experience of regionalization in Russia. Through the XVIIIth — XXth centuries, the regional policy was the objective component of state strategy in a socio-economic field. From the times of Peter the Great's reforms, the Russian history proves the right course and effectiveness of the country’s development on the basis of major economic regions, with the administrative and economic authorities being combined and relatively self-committed to determine the socio-economic targets. As a rule, the results were the accelerated growth rates in all sectors of national economy. Then, the attempt to split up the established economic regions and to diminish their influence inside the Soviet system unaer Stalin led to the economic slowdown and Other negative consequences. Now, the newly formulated regional strategy for the Russian Federation should involve positive aspects of the previous socio-economic* development, especially in using a scheme of major economic regions. Also, such integrated units should get an official administrative status.