Pathways of Federal Reform: Australia, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland

Abstract

Applying a historical-institutionalist framework, this article systematically explores the patterns of institutional reform in four federations (Australia, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland) since the early 1990s. The article finds that the historical legacy of a federal system has an effect on the overarching reform goal (strengthening self-rule versus shared rule), as well as the scope (focused versus comprehensive) and mode (constitutional versus nonconstitutional) of reforms. Reforms in Australia and Canada were primarily concerned with pathologies such as unilateralism and duplication of competences and had as their main goal to strengthen shared rule. Reforms in Germany and Switzerland were initiated to disentangle both tiers of government by strengthening self-rule.