Living together: International aspects of federal systems

Abstract

Canada is an experiment in living together. It is a democratic experiment in diversity and multiple identities, in combining a multi-national state with continent-sized territorial federalism, in addressing nationalismfs) and group identity demands, all simultaneously. The vitality and importance of our Canadian experiment was remarked upon, time and again, by the international scholars and practitioners of federalism who met with Canadian thinkers for four days last Fall in a unique two-site conference at Laval University, Quebec City and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, called “living Together: International Aspects of Federal Systems.”The goals of the conference were to bring international perspectives and experiences into Canadian discussions and to explore elements of society building. The focus was the citizen and society, rather than rules and constitutions. The framework was political culture, rather than the formal arrangements of federal systems. Participants were asked to addres...