Diversity and Unity in Federal Systems

Abstract

In general, studies on ethnicity, conflict, and territorial cleavages in federations and federal systems, as well as the analyses of constitutional designs to manage conflict, lack a comprehensive and systematic comparative account of (a) the different types and aspects of diversity in federal systems and their determinants and (b) the consequences of the approaches taken to manage them.26 As has been mentioned, in recent times there has been a renewed interest in researching the relationship between federalism and diversity. Such attention has been reflected in a growing number of publications from different angles and normative perspectives. Some of them have compared two or a few more countries. However, this book, in a systematic and comprehensive manner using a common template of issues, compares diversity and unity regarding twelve federal systems around the world: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Nigeria, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States of America.