Federalism and conflict resolution: Mixed success?

Abstract

There has been increasing interest in using federalism as a tool of conflict resolution. The vast majority of federal systems that emerged in recent decades has come out of countries that witnessed violent conflict and authoritarian rule. Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995), Nigeria (1997), Sudan (2005), Iraq (2005), and Nepal (2015) are important examples. As federalism is more and more used to end violent conflicts, preserve the territorial integrity of states facing increasing self-governance pressures from different groups, and providing a framework for democratization in a post-authoritarian society, the federal structures that can be found in these countries are becoming ever-more complex. Teaching federalism and conflict resolution therefore requires a distinct focus on the theoretical challenges involved, as well as the willingness and ability to use a variety of case studies to highlight how federalism can contribute to peace and democracy, while at the same time keeping in mind the challenges in federalism’s use as a tool of conflict resolution.