
Federal Dynamics
Continuity, Change, and the Varieties of Federalism
Oxford University Press
Published on 31. January 2013
Book
Hardback
410 pages
978-0-19-965299-0 (ISBN)
Description
Federal systems are praised for creating political stability, but they are also blamed for causing rigidity. They are said to balance powers, but apparently they are also threatened by instability due to drifts in power. Federalism should support democratization, but it can also constrain the power of the demos and strengthen the executive. In short, there is widespread agreement that federal systems are dynamic. The forces, mechanisms and consequences of federal dynamics, however, are not sufficiently understood so far.
This book brings together leading experts in the field of comparative federalism to highlight how the interplay of continuity and change systematically generates and reinforces varieties of federalism and varieties of federal dynamics. Federal Dynamics: Continuity, Change and Varieties of Federalism investigates mechanisms and resulting patterns of federal development. It offers new analytical concepts and discusses different theoretical propositions to systematically compare convergent and divergent trends in federal systems. Acknowledging the theoretical pluralism that dominates the field, the book is organized around four sections: Models, Varieties and Dimensions of Federalism; Timing, Sequencing and Historical Evolution; Social Change and Political Structuring; and Actors, Institutions and Internal Dynamics.
The contributions to this volume are variously concerned with three guiding questions: What changes within federal systems, how and why? The focus provided by these three guiding questions allows for a dialogue between strands of the literature that have not talked to each other in a sufficient manner. In this way, the book makes a significant contribution to the growing literature on continuity and change in federal systems. Ultimately, it represents a substantive effort in advancing research on comparative federalism.
This book brings together leading experts in the field of comparative federalism to highlight how the interplay of continuity and change systematically generates and reinforces varieties of federalism and varieties of federal dynamics. Federal Dynamics: Continuity, Change and Varieties of Federalism investigates mechanisms and resulting patterns of federal development. It offers new analytical concepts and discusses different theoretical propositions to systematically compare convergent and divergent trends in federal systems. Acknowledging the theoretical pluralism that dominates the field, the book is organized around four sections: Models, Varieties and Dimensions of Federalism; Timing, Sequencing and Historical Evolution; Social Change and Political Structuring; and Actors, Institutions and Internal Dynamics.
The contributions to this volume are variously concerned with three guiding questions: What changes within federal systems, how and why? The focus provided by these three guiding questions allows for a dialogue between strands of the literature that have not talked to each other in a sufficient manner. In this way, the book makes a significant contribution to the growing literature on continuity and change in federal systems. Ultimately, it represents a substantive effort in advancing research on comparative federalism.
Reviews / Votes
The volume is an excellent starting point for a broader effort of integrating the comparative study of federalism around a structure and change framework while anchoring it in the field of comparative politics... a notable contribution to both federalism studies and comparative politics. Paul Dragos Aligica, International Affairs 89 This edited book is ambitious and insightful, drawing on the distinct and diverse theoretical traditions of constitutional design and reform, historical development, comparative federalism and institutionalism, to better elucidate the ontology and dynamics of federal systems. Students will find it a challenging but not inaccessible text, which will abundantly reward their diligent attention. Federal Governance Benz and Broscheks book makes a healthy contribution to an integrated debate on federal theories. Joao Mourato Pinto, Journal of Common Market StudiesMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
778 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-965299-0 (9780199652990)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
01/2013
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€79.49
Available for download
Persons
Arthur Benz's research, over the last decade, has focused on politics and policy-making in multilevel governance and constitutional change in federal or federalising systems. The results of his research have been published in books and journals such as Public Administration, Regional and Federal Studies, Publius: The Journal of Federalism, and West European Politics. He is Professor of Political Science at the Technische Universitaet Darmstadt, Germany.
Joerg Broschek is author of a book on Canadian federalism (Der kanadische Foederalismus. Eine historisch-institutionalistische Analyse, Wiesbaden 2009). His articles have been published in academic journals including the Canadian Journal of Political Science, Publius: The Journal of Federalism, Regional and Federal Studies, and the Swiss Political Science Review. He is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Technische Universitaet Darmstadt. His current research focuses on institutional and policy change in federal systems.
Joerg Broschek is author of a book on Canadian federalism (Der kanadische Foederalismus. Eine historisch-institutionalistische Analyse, Wiesbaden 2009). His articles have been published in academic journals including the Canadian Journal of Political Science, Publius: The Journal of Federalism, Regional and Federal Studies, and the Swiss Political Science Review. He is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Technische Universitaet Darmstadt. His current research focuses on institutional and policy change in federal systems.
Editor
, Professor of Political Science at the Technische UniversitA?t Darmstadt
, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Technische UniversitA?t Darmstadt
Content
Acknowledgements ; 1. Federal Dynamics: Introduction ; Part I: Models, Varieties and Dimensions of Federalism ; 2. Dimensions and Dynamics of Federal Regimes ; 3. Comparing Federalisms: Variations or Distinct Models? ; 4. Varieties of Federalism and Propensities for Change ; Part II: Timing and Sequencing and Historical Evolution ; 5. Between Path Dependence and Gradual Change: Historical Institutionalism and the Study of Federal Dynamics ; 6. Resilience and Change in Federal Institutions: The Case of the German Federal Council ; 7. Decentralization in Time: A Process-Tracing Approach to Federal Dynamics of Change ; 9. Federalism, Democracy and Democratization ; 10. The Evolution of Federalism and Executive Power in Canada and Australia ; Part III: Social Change and Political Structuring ; 11. Federalism, Nationalist Politics, and Social Policy: How Ideas and Institutions Interact to Produce or Prevent Change ; 12. Dynamics of Change in Federal Representation ; 13. Mainstream Parties and Territorial Dynamics in the UK, Spain and India ; Part IV: Actors, Institutions and Internal Dynamics ; 14. Constitutional Change in Federations: The Role of Complementary Institutions ; 15. Constitutional Reform and Federal Dynamics: Causes and Effects ; 16. Paradoxes of Self-Coordination in Federal Systems ; 17. Economic Crisis and Federal Dynamics ; Conclusion: Theorizing Federal Dynamics