Föderale Demokratie

In comparative research, ‘federal democracy’ is not considered a distinct type of government. Therefore, the relationship between federalism and democracy has remained largely unexplained. This book defines this relationship by emphasising tensions between democratic legitimacy, which presupposes the autonomy of those governing, and coordinated governance in federalism. By comparing different patterns of federal democracy, the author analyses the causes and consequences of these tensions. He shows which institutional conditions induce self-reinforcing dynamics and which allow actors to adapt to their strategies and learn how to cope with tensions. Using his concept of federal democracy as a basis, he criticises both technocratic management of interdependence and populist ideas of the separation of power. Instead, he suggests modes of coordination in federalism that are compatible with democracy.