Abstract

The end of the Cold War has ushered in a new and dangerous era of fragmentation, ethnic conflict and heightened nationalism worldwide. The promise of peace remains unfulfilled. The Argument in these essays is that the key to peace in many if not all of the conflicts faced today is in embracing one form or other of the Federal idea; combining self-rule with shared rule. In ten essays Daniel J. Elazar explores the federal idea and its many forms. From its roots in Biblical covenants, to the concept of covenant in the thought of Johannes Althusius in sixteenth century Europe, the American founding of modern Federalism, the more recent reinvention of confederal forms and new kinds of Federalism in contemporary Europe, through to the relevance and emerging practice of Federal ideas in South Africa, the Middle East and the Former Soviet Union. This book contributes fresh perspectives on the variety and flexibility of federal ideas, well beyond any specific constitutional framework. It holds many insights for Canadians and others faced with the task of redefining political communities or rediscovering the values of peaceful coexistence.