Federalism, Regionalism and the Governance of Diversity in Europe and Beyond 4

Abstract

This panel takes a new look at federalism and considers its multiple features today, in the early 21st century, when pressures to manage diversity effectively are not only strong but also increasing. The panel highlights three cases, one per paper. The first paper begins by distinguishing between federalism and federation and providing a historical review of federalism as a means of examining federations. It concludes by suggesting a model for regional integration and specifically assesses the federal features of the European Union. The second paper examines a fundamental aspect of federalism—the nature of intergovernmental relations between national and subnational units—in Canada, a country in which those relations are highly diverse. By investigating the Canadian policy coordination meetings over a 15-year period, the paper demonstrates how highly varying degrees of institutionalization of intergovernmental relations influences the degree of collaboration among governments. Finally, the third paper examines the case of Nepal by analyzing the outcomes of two regional conflicts in federal India. The paper considers how the provision of autonomy to subnational units—essentially recognizing territorial ethnic groups—can transform ethno-political conflict in a positive way.

Title	Details
Peace-preserving Federalism in India	View Paper Details
Intergovernmental Structures and Federalism in Canada	View Paper Details