Theories of modern federalism

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Federalism plays a crucial role in shaping political orders, yet recent research has shifted focus from theoretical and ideological discussions to empirical studies, leaving a gap in the overall presentation of modern federalism debates. The relationship between federalism and democracy remains ambiguous. This anthology aims to highlight the theoretical diversity within the federalism discourse and illustrate the path dependence of certain traditions of thought. Addressing such a broad and influential theoretical tradition comes with inherent limitations. Contributors were tasked with two main objectives: first, to situate their analyses within concrete political debates regarding democracy and the vertical separation of powers; second, to systematically review the concept of federalism and its connection to freedom. The authors explore how a federalist perspective reshapes our understanding of representation and administration at various levels of government, while also examining how evolving notions of democracy influence political and theoretical discussions on federalism. Contributions are provided by Gabriele Abels, Juri Auderset, Volker Depkart, Dirk Jörke, Charlotte A. Lerg, Thomas Maissen, Hartmut Marhold, William Mathie, James Read, Lee Ward, and Claudia Wiesner.