34091 - Comparative Federal Systems

Learning outcomes

The course provides conceptual tools to analyze federalism in a comparative perspective. Students will be able to examine federal dynamics in classic federations, still unitary states which are experiencing federalization processes, and institutional arrangements of the European Union.

Course contents

The course is organized in two parts. In the first part, patterns and dynamics of federalism will be analyzed in classical federations (Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and United States). In the second part, the analysis will focus on emerging federalism, with main reference to federalism by devolution (Belgium, Italy,  Spain, and the United Kingdom) and federalism in the European Union.

Readings/Bibliography

A. General reading

1) Baldi, B. (2003), Stato e territorio. Federalismo e decentramento nelle democrazie contemporanee, Laterza, Roma-Bari.

2) Swenden W. (2006), Federalism and Regionalism in Western Europe, Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave-MacMillian

3) Ventura S. (ed) (2008), Da Stato unitario a Stato federale, Il Mulino, Bologna.

B.  Further reading

B1. Classical federations

- Braun, Dietmar (2011), How Centralized Federations Avoid Over-centralization, Regional & Federal Studies, Vol. 21, No.1, pp. 35-54

- Erk, Jan (2008), Explaining Federalism. State, society and congruence in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany and Switzerland, Routledge, London

- Thorlakson, Lori (2003), Comparing federal institutions: Power and representation in six federations, West European Politics, Vol. 26, No.2, pp. 1-22

 B2. Federalism by devolution 

- Guibernau,  Montserrat (2014), Prospects for an Independent Catalonia, International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society,  Vol. 27, No. 1,  pp. 5-23

- Verge, Tania (2013), Party Strategies on Territorial Reform: Statewide Parties and the State of Autonomies in Spain, West European Politics, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 317-337

 - Deschouwer, Kris e Reuchamps, Min (2013), The Belgian Federation at a Crossroad, Regional & Federal Studies, Vol. 23, No. 3, pp. 261-270

- Swenden, Wilfried (2013), Conclusion: The Future of Belgian Federalism. Between Reform and Swansong?, Regional & Federal Studies, Vol. 23, No. 3, pp. 369-382

- Torre, Alessandro (2013), Scozia: devolution, quasi-federalismo, indipendenza?, Istituzioni del federalismo, No. 1, pp. 137-179

- Casanas Adam, Elisenda (2014), Self-determination and the Use of Referendums: the Case of Scotland, International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society, Vol. 27, No. 1,  pp. 47-66

B3. Federalism in Italy and in the EU

- Gardini, Gianluca (2013), Centralismo o secessione: il dilemma (sbagliato) di un ordinamento in crisi, Istituzioni del federalismo, No. 1, pp. 5-28

- Massetti, Emanuele e Toubeau, Simon (2013), Sailing with Northern Winds: Party Politics and Federal Reforms in Italy,West European Politics, Vol. 36, No.2, pp. 359-381

- Mazzoleni, Martino (2009), The Italian Regionalisation: A Story of Partisan Logics, Modern Italy, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 135-150

- Borzel, Tanja A. (2005) What can federalism teach us about the European Union? The German experience, Regional & Federal Studies, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 245-257

-  Fabbrini S. (2005), Is the EU exceptional? The EU and the US in comparative perspective, in S. Fabbrini (ed), Democracy and Federalism in the European Union and the United States. Exploring post-national governance, Routledge, London, pp. 3-24

-  Piattoni, Simona (2013), Federalism and the European Union, in J. Loughlin, J. Kincaid e W. Swenden (eds), Handbook of Regionalism and Federalism, Routledge, London, pp. 547-558.

Teaching methods

Conventional teaching method. At the end of the course three workshops will be organized where students will be required to discuss further reading.

Assessment methods

Grades are based on final paper (70%) and participation to group discussion (30%). For students who do not attend the course an oral examination on the recommended reading: all general reading +  two of the three sections of further reading.

Teaching tools

Slide projector for power point.

Office hours

See the website of Brunetta Baldi