The Ashgate Research Companion to Federalism (Federalism Studies)

This comprehensive volume is targeted at a diverse audience of scholars interested in the theory, practice and historical development of the principle of federalism from the ancient period to the contemporary world. The scope and range of this volume is unparalleled in the field and will engage researchers from a variety of specialities and perspectives including intellectual history, political theory, public policy and comparative politics. A valuable resource on theoretical origins, current debates and the future direction of the federal idea that continues to impact so significantly political life in Europe, North America and the developing nations.This volume includes 33 original chapters, which are distributed among six sections focusing on the idea of federalism that are designed to provide a range of interpretations as well as to integrate theoretical and practical aspects of federalism studies more fully than is usually the case. The sections evolve in the following way:The three chapters in the first section identify and examine nascent conceptions of the federal idea in ancient and medieval history and political thought.The six chapters of the second section consider the roots of modern federalism in the ideas of a number of important European political theorists of the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries.The six chapters in the third section focus on the development and institutionalization of the principle of federalism in the American Republic.The five chapters of the fourth section examine the historical development and central policy debates surrounding European federalism.The six chapters in the fifth section deal with contemporary debates about theories of federalism.The seven chapters of the sixth section address a range of topics dealing with the regional experiences of federalism in a global context including Africa, India, Australia, the Middle East, and North and South America.Taken in its totality, the volume is designed as a research guide that will provide the reader with a firm understanding of federalism as issues of federalism promise to play an ever more important role in shaping our world.Ward, Ann is the author of 'The Ashgate Research Companion to Federalism (Federalism Studies)', published 2009 under ISBN 9780754671312 and ISBN 0754671313.