Federalism in the Global South

This panel brings together scholars to examine the evolving nature and practice of federalism in the Global South. Drawing on comparative and case-based studies, panelists will explore key questions, including: How have federal systems in the Global South sought to accommodate ethnic, linguistic, regional, and other forms of diversity? How do constitutional design and political practice shape the distribution of power and autonomy between national and subnational governments? How do political parties, fiscal arrangements, intergovernmental relations, and processes of centralisation affect the functioning and resilience of federal systems? How have federal arrangements responded to contemporary pressures, including democratic backsliding, political instability, conflict, economic inequality, migration, and demands for greater territorial autonomy? To what extent do existing theories of federalism adequately capture the distinctive experiences of post-colonial and deeply divided societies? And what might the experiences of federalism in the Global South contribute to broader theories of federalism and multilevel constitutionalism? We welcome contributions from countries across the Global South, particularly comparative studies that engage with the relationship between constitutional design and political practice, and that critically examine both the promise and limitations of federalism as a means of managing diversity, dispersing political power, and deepening democratic governance.