Territorial Politics and Institutional Change: A Comparative-Historical Analysis

Broschek, Jörg; Petersohn, Bettina; Toubeau, Simon

doi:10.1093/publius/pjx059

Cited by 23 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…The interest of this comparative design relies upon identifying possible forms of convergence, particularly in terms of governance, despite the presence of key institutional differences. This type of comparison is in line with the resurgence of territory and locality in comparative politics (Broschek et al, 2017), as well as with the move beyond “methodological nationalism” in migration studies (Glick Schiller and Caglar, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Comparing Ambiguities: Municipalities, Francophone Minority Communities and Immigration in Canada

Fourot

2021

Can J Pol Sci

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This article analyzes the implication of municipal governments and civil society actors in immigration through multilevel and collaborative governance arrangements. It argues that studying the roles of ambiguities is critical to understanding the activism of political entities with ill-defined status and mandates, such as municipalities and francophone minority communities (FMCs). This research adds to the literature on the “local turn” by highlighting that ambiguities are both a condition—that is, a driver that makes collaborative and multilevel arrangements work—and an outcome of collaboration practices, characterized by ambiguities regarding the balance of power, the aims of collaboration in a competitive sector and conflicting forms of accountabilities. The article identifies three approaches that actors use to deal with these ambiguities in a context where resources are not equitably distributed and where the role of the federal government is critical. In this configuration, municipalities and FMCs develop adaptive, rather than transformative, approaches to ambiguities.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Comparing Ambiguities: Municipalities, Francophone Minority Communities and Immigration in Canada

Fourot

2021

Can J Pol Sci

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“…Federal systems develop by simultaneously exhibiting continuity and change. Accordingly, the study of federalism necessitates the study of federal dynamics (e.g., Benz and Broschek 2013;Broschek et al 2018). Being the world's second oldest federation, Switzerland is an enormously rich and 'unique case study' (Vatter et al 2020, 973) to explore how federations emerge and develop.…”

Section: Federal Dynamics: How Federations Emerge and Develop Over Timementioning

confidence: 99%

Switzerland: real federalism at work

Freiburghaus¹,

Vatter²

2023

Teaching Federalism

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While the Swiss may be famous for their watches, chocolate, scenic mountains, and banks, they are also well known for their distinct political system that unites federalism, direct democracy, and consociationalism. These three intertwined political institutions serve one overarching purpose: to involve as many people as possible in policymaking (power-sharing). Each of the four official language groups (German, French, Italian, and Romansh) should have their say. The people living in the Alps should express their views on an equal footing with the growing, cosmopolitan, three-quarters-majority in urban areas. Each of Switzerland's 26 constituent units (cantons) should have the same constitutionally enshrined 'access points' at the federal level, although six cantons contribute half a cantonal vote only and delegate only one instead of two Councilors of States each. Finally, both Protestants and Catholics sit at the table; as do the growing number of non-Christians and residents with no religious affiliation.Landlocked at the confluence of Western, Central, and Southern Europe, Switzerland often presents as a 'paradigmatic case of political integration' (Deutsch 1976). The country is seen as 'one of the few examples of real federalism in the world' (Lane 2001, 7); admired as a federal model (Vatter 2018); and it serves as inspiration for a 'possible solution to conflict' (Linder and Mueller 2021) in multicultural societies worldwide.For non-Swiss, it may be tempting to portray Switzerland as an island of bliss, where democratic stability prevails and the people are economically well-off. To be sure, the country has seen no military invasion for over 224 years, and it was not formally dragged into the world wars that devastated Europe. However, 'Sonderfall rhetoric' that think of Switzerland as an 'exceptional country' that is 'more prosperous, more harmonious, more democratic, more self reliant, more able to solve its problems and more moral than most other states' (Church and Head 2015, 227) overlook two essential points.First, Sonderfall rhetoric is usually blind to Switzerland's checkered history. Starting in the late medieval period, the Old Confederacy (late thirteenth

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“…Territorial politics “from above” involves the structuring of the state, including through federalism, and its “re-scaling” (Keating, 2013) as it seeks to adapt to changing political, social and economic realities. It is “concerned with such issues as the establishment and (re)organization of politico-administrative boundaries, the incorporation of distinct territories into a political system, the relative autonomy and capacity of sub-national territorial entities, and the articulation of their interests at the center” (Broschek et al, 2018: 1). In the context of territorial politics “from above,” territory shows up through political institutions that spatially divide and structure political power.…”

Section: The Field Of Territorial Politicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canada and Comparative Territorial Politics

Lecours

2023

Can J Pol Sci

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This presidential address on Canada and the study of territorial politics makes four main arguments. The first is that territory is a central component of politics, especially of Canadian politics, and that it should remain a focal point of specialists of Canadian and comparative politics. The second is that territory matters in contemporary politics because it serves as grounding for political communities, their claims, and their politics. The third is that not “identifying” parts of Canadian politics as “territorial politics” risks overlooking the importance of territory in the theorizing of federalism, nationalism and regionalism. The fourth is that, through the case of Canada, political scientists have made significant contributions to the study of comparative territorial politics.

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Territorial Politics and Institutional Change: A Comparative-Historical Analysis

Cited by 23 publications

References 74 publications

Comparing Ambiguities: Municipalities, Francophone Minority Communities and Immigration in Canada

Comparing Ambiguities: Municipalities, Francophone Minority Communities and Immigration in Canada

Switzerland: real federalism at work

Canada and Comparative Territorial Politics

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