Cooperative Federalism in South Asia and Europe: Contemporary Issues and Trends

This book explores the challenges, opportunities, and trends impacting the working of federations in South Asia and Europe. It deliberates on the changing socio-economic realities, challenges facing the existing structures of governance, degrees of consociationalism, and the growing aspirations of people in South Asia and Europe. Through case studies from Greece, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, France, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, and India, the volume focuses on critical issues relating to cooperative federalism – its complexities, institutional dilemmas, and trends in South Asia and Europe. It discusses a variety of themes relevant to Cooperative Federalism including federal-state relations; cooperative governance; constitution; multiculturalism, fiscal relations, democratization, devolution of powers, consociationalism, and global citizenship in South Asia and Europe. The book further emphasizes the need to strike a balance between the federal government and the constituent units in these two regions. Topical and lucid, this book will be of interest to teachers, scholars, and researchers of political science, comparative government and politics, federalism, South Asian politics, European politics, governance studies, and political studies.