Federal Democracies (Routledge Studies in Federalism and Decentralization)

Federal Democracies examines the evolution of the relationship between federalism and democracy. Taking the late 18th century US Federal Experience as its starting-point, the book uses the contributions of Calhoun, Bryce and Proudhon as 19th century conceptual prisms through which we can witness the challenges and changes made to the meaning of this relationship. The book then goes on to provide a series of case studies to examine contemporary examples of federalism and includes chapters on Canada, USA, Russia, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland and the emerging European Union. It features two further case studies on Minority Nations and a Federal Europe, and concludes with two chapters providing comparative empirical and theoretical perspectives, and comparative reflections on federalism and democracy.

Bringing together international experts in the field this book will be vital reading for students and scholars of federalism, comparative politics and government.

Michael Burgess is Professor of Federal Studies, and Director of the Centre for Federal Studies at the University of Kent at Canterbury.  His most recent publications include (as co-editor) Multinational Federations and Comparative Federalism: Theory and Practice (both published by Routledge).  Alain-G. Gagnon is Professor in the department of Political Science, and Canada Research Chair in Quebec and Canadian Studies, at the University of Quebec at Montreal, Canada. His most recent publications include (as editor) Contemporary Canadian Federalism and (as author) The Case for Multinational Federalism (also published by Routledge).