Comparative Federalism

This illuminating Handbook presents a rich conceptual account of federalism, engaging with a range of issues across constitutional theory and institutional design. Leading experts provide a comprehensive analysis of federalism as a constitutional principle, addressing a field that remains relatively underexplored.

Adopting a combination of comparative, theoretical, analytical and substantive methodological approaches, contributing authors cover the history, definitions, theoretical insights and regional perspectives within federalism and constitutional law. They highlight the flexibility of the federal idea by examining not only classic federations, but also hybrid federal systems and supranational models, both in the Global North and in the Global South. Delivering a state-of-the-art overview through a broad comparative perspective, the Handbook analyses the diverse traditions of federalism and their different paths of formation. It also addresses foundational themes in the literature, including definitional challenges and core issues of constitutional design. Ultimately, it examines the pressing challenges that federal systems are likely to face in the years ahead.

Providing a robust study of federalism law and theory, this Handbook is an essential resource for legal scholars, researchers and students of comparative constitutional law and comparative federalism. It is also helpful for legal practitioners and attorneys working in the field.