Federalism and democracy: In principle complementary

Arthur Benz

Chapter 2 in Understanding Federal Democracy, 2026, pp 13-31 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter reviews understandings of federal democracy which emerged in different historical, societal and political contexts. Accordingly, they combine distinct concepts of federalism and democracy, based on ideas of liberalism, communitarianism and consociationalism. These understandings presume specific theories of society and respond to cleavages and problems of governing these societies. They essentially propose ideas and constitutional principles that should guide institutions and processes of governing. Each of these understandings and the corresponding theories can be criticized on normative grounds. Nonetheless, they indicate that both federalism and democracy imply fundamental goals of liberty, equality, solidarity and good governance. As principles, they complement each other. This, however, does not answer the question of whether and how institutions designed according to these principles provide for effective and legitimate governing.

Keywords: Liberal democracy; Checks and balances; Equality; Communitarian democracy; Consociational democracy; Solidarity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035361489
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