Towards a normative theory of federalism

Abstract

Present political circumstances make it absolutely essential to seek an appropriate normative framework for reflection on the future of federal institutions the world over. This essay outlines the main normative parameters that any normative theory of federalism would have to take into account. Federal institutions are justified primarily by considerations relating to liberty, the promotion of active citizenship, and democracy. In multination states, federal arrangements will also be necessitated by considerations of equity and the right to self‐determination. Federal constitutions nevertheless tend to make it difficult to achieve efficiency, solidarity, and a shared political identity. States opting for a federal constitution may, however, counter these difficulties by establishing institutional mechanisms making for social trust among the different forces in society. A particularly appropriate example for multination federal states is given of such a mechanism: a constitutionally entrenched right to secede under specific conditions and in accordance with a strictly defined process.

Federalism and the Spanish First Democratic Republic, 1873-1874

“…For an historical outlook of comparative studies of federalism see Watts [66]. 7 The normative approach I am referring to can, for example, be found in Weinstock [67] and Jewkes [30]. With regard to the importance of taking into account historical conceptual changes and rhetorical uses of political and social concepts see Koselleck [31][32][33], Palonen [41,43], Palonen, Rosales and Pulkkinen [42], Rosales and Toscano [56]; Rosales [57]; Skinner [60]; López and Rosales [37].…”

Rewriting Nigerian Federal Constitution: A Prescriptive Argument for a Self-Sustaining Arrangement

“…Watts has noted that the more diversity within a federation, the greater the powers that are assigned to the constituent units, but the centre is given enough powers to resist balkanization (Watts 2002, 450). Given that accommodation of diversity is one of the primary reasons for adopting federalism in Nigeria, it would be desirable and politically wise to assign a lot Downloaded by [University of Regina] at 10:57 18 November 2014 more power to the constituent states: desirable because the essence of using federalism to accommodate diversity is to fulfill the democratic ideal that groups concentrated in a territorial space should have right to govern their own affairs (Weinstock 2001); politically wise because it will refocus the groups on governing their internal affairs, keep them busy within, and minimize contacts and arguments over issues at the centre. Now, Nigeria's first federal experience (1960-66) failed even though greater powers were assigned to the component units.…”

¿Cuánta desigualdad es compatible con el federalismo? Sobre los límites de la justicia distributiva federal

“…Por ejemplo, en algunas provincias la educación está influida por una cultura religiosa tradicionalista que afecta el derecho a la salud y al ejercicio de los derechos sexuales y reproductivos 2 . Teniendo en cuenta que en los últimos 40 años se han desarrollado teorías y evaluaciones críticas sobre la distribución de las cargas y los beneficios sociales, genera perplejidad que la organización federal de los estados modernos, cuyos efectos coercitivos determinan tan profundamente la vida de las personas, no haya recibido la misma atención (Weinstock, 2001, 75, Máiz, 2006 3 . Esta perplejidad está justificada si tenemos en cuenta que las instituciones federales se encuentran presentes en un gran número de democracias constitucionales modernas.…”