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 both classic federations and unitary states which are experiencing devolution. They will also gain knowledge on federalism in Brazil and India.

Course contents

The course is organized in three 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 focus will be on devolutionary federalism and the threat of secession in some European countries (Belgium, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom). In the third part, the analysis will be on federalism in the world, with reference to India and European Union.

Readings/Bibliography

A. Classic federalism

Bolleyer Nicole, Swenden Wilfried and McEwen Nicola (2014), Constitutional dynamics and partisan conflict: A comparative assessment of multi-level systems in Europe, in “Comparative European Politics” Vol. 12, 4/5, 531-555;

Braun, Dietmar (2011), How Centralized Federations Avoid Over-centralization, in “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;

Hueglin, Thomas (2013), Comparing federalism: Variations or distinct models?, in A. Benz and J. Broschek (eds), Federal Dynamics. Continuity, Change, and the Varieties of Federalism, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 27-47;

Thorlakson L. (2003), Comparing Federal Institutions: Power and Representation in Six Federations, in “West European Politics”, Vol.26, No.2, pp.1–22.

B. Devolutionary federalism and secessionism

Baldini, G. and B. Baldi. 2014. “Decentralization in Italy and the troubles of federalization”. Regional & Federal Studies, 24, no. 1: 87–108;

Deschouwer K. (2013), The Belgian Federation, in J. Loughlin, J. Kincaid e W. Swenden (eds), Handbook of Regionalism and Federalism, Routledge, pp. 211-222;

Castellà Andreu, Josep-Maria, 2015, The Proposal for Catalan Secession and the Crisis of the Spanish Autonomous State, in “Diritto pubblico comparato ed europeo”, No. 2, pp. 429-44;

Jeffery C. (2013), Devolution in the United Kingdom, in J. Loughlin, J. Kincaid e W. Swenden (eds), Handbook of Regionalism and Federalism, Routledge, pp. 317- 330;

Kymlicka, Will (1998), Is federalism a viable alternative to secession?, in Percy B. Lehning (a cura di), Theories of secession, Routledge, London-New York, pp. 111-150;

Leyland, Peter (2014), The Scottish Referendum, the funding of territorial governance in the United Kingdom and the legislative role of the Westminster Parliament, in “Istituzioni del federalismo”, No. 4, pp. 857-884;

Muro Diego and Vlaskamp Martijn  (2016), How do prospects of EU membership influence support for secession? A survey experiment in Catalonia and Scotland, in "West European Politics", Vol. 39, No. 6, pp. 1115-1138;

Rius-Ulldemolins Joaquim and Zamorano Mariano M. (2015), Federalism, Cultural Policies, and Identity Pluralism: Cooperation and Conflict in the Spanish Quasi-Federal System, in “Publius: The Journal of Federalism”, volume 45 number 2, pp.167-188.

C. Federalism in the world

India

Bhattacharyya, Harihar (2015), Indian Federalism and Democracy: The Growing Salience of Diversity-claims Over Equality-claims in Comparative and Indian Perspective, in “Regional & Federal Studies”, No. 3, pp. 211-227;

Kohli, Atul (2004), India: Federalism and the Accomodation of Ethnic Nationalism, in U. Amoretti e N. Bermeo (a cura di), Federalism and Territorial Cleavages, Baltimore and London, The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 281-299;

Tillin, Louise (2007), United in Diversity? Asymmetry in Indian Federalism, in "Publius: The Journal of Federalism", No.1, pp. 45-67.

European Union

Keating, Michael (2017), Europe as a multilevel federation, in “Journal of European Public Policy”, No. 4, 615-632;

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

Teaching methods

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

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 readings: all readings of sections A and B (section C excluded).

Teaching tools

Slide projector for power point.

Office hours

See the website of Brunetta Baldi