The Global Promise of Federalism

"The Global Promise of Federalism honours the career and achievements of Richard Simeon, Canada's pre-eminent scholar of federalism, by bringing together the best of Canadian and comparative scholarship on federalism while addressing one of the more compelling themes in the literature, the question of the continuing relevance and promise of this form of government in Canada and abroad." -- Herman Bavkis, School of Public Administration, University of Victoria "In this celebration and commemoration of the huge scholarly contribution that Richard Simeon made to federal studies, broadly understood, there is a welcome consistency and congruence of purpose. The editors have made it all the more coherent and cohesive by producing an elegant analytical framework within which to situate the twelve contributions compiled to honour the 'federalist life' of one of the truly great scholars in this subject area. The Global Promise of Federalism aptly captures both the scope and spirit of Richard Simeon's characteristically analytical approach to and understanding of federalism." -- Michael Burgess, Director, Centre for Federal Studies, University of Kent "Global Promise of Federalism is a terrific addition to federalism scholarship and a charming combination of substance and context, challenges and remembrance, building on the substantial contribution of Richard Simeon dealing with key issues of trust, institutional design, adaptation and traditions. Simeon's essay on his career will be useful especially to young federalism scholars plying their way in the field. It is helpful, poignant, and entirely Simeon-esque. This is a must-read for Canadian scholars and provides considerable food for thought and challenge for international scholars as well." -- Carol Weissert, Department of Political Science, Florida State University

The Global Promise of Federalism honours the life and work of Richard Simeon, one of Canada’s foremost experts on federalism.

The Global Promise of Federalism honours the life and work of Richard Simeon, one of Canada’s foremost experts on federalism. It features a group of distinguished scholars of federalism from Canada and abroad who take up some of the fundamental questions at the heart of both Simeon’s work and contemporary debates. Does federalism foster democracy? Can it help bring together divided societies? How do federations evolve and adapt to changing circumstances?

In the course of answering these questions, the chapters in this collection offer a comparative perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing well-established federations such as Canada and Australia, as well as new federal and quasi-federal systems in Europe, Africa, and Asia. They examine the interplay between federal values, such as trust and mutual recognition, and institutional design; the challenges facing post-conflict federations; and the adaptability of federal systems in the face of changing social, economic, and cultural contexts.