Federalism is a governance system that balances power between a central authority and regional entities within a nation. It allows for shared responsibilities and regional autonomy while maintaining national unity. The text explores the structure, evolution, and theoretical support of federalism, highlighting its use in countries like the USA, Canada, and Germany, and its role in managing diversity and conflict.
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Federalism is a system of governance that combines a central authority with regional entities within a single nation
Early Concepts of Shared Governance
Federalism can be traced back to thinkers like Johannes Althusius and Montesquieu who contributed to the idea of shared governance
Distinction from Confederalism and Unitary States
Federalism differs from confederalism, where the central body is less powerful, and from a unitary state with devolved powers, where regional authorities are subordinate to a central government
Federalism offers a balance between regional autonomy and national unity
The concept of federalism has roots in ancient alliances like the Achaean League and the Old Swiss Confederacy
Federalism is a political structure with multiple levels of government, each with its own jurisdiction and autonomy
The U.S. Constitution established a federal system that balances power between the national government and the states
Countries like Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Mexico, and the United States have distinct federal arrangements
The European Union is often described as a supranational federation of member states
Some nations practice symmetric federalism, where all regions have equal status and powers, while others have asymmetric federalism, which grants certain areas more autonomy
Ideational theories suggest that societies with a strong belief in decentralization are more likely to adopt federalism
Cultural-historical theories propose that federal structures suit societies with diverse cultural or ethnic compositions
Social contract theories view federalism as a balance between central authority and regional entities, while infrastructural power theories argue that federalism is feasible when regions have established infrastructures
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In federalism, the national government shares power with ______ governments.
regional
01
Federalism is a middle ground between a ______ state and a ______, where regional autonomy is balanced with national unity.
unitary
confederalism
02
Historical examples of federalism
Achaean League in ancient Greece, Old Swiss Confederacy.
