The study of regionalism, federalism, and territorial governance has historically been dominated by research on Europe and North America. While these regions have provided valuable insights into multi-level governance, they represent only a fraction of the global diversity of territorial politics.
Recent years have seen increasing scholarly engagement with cases beyond the Euro-Atlantic space, reflecting the need for a more comprehensive and globally attuned research agenda. This expansion is essential not only for understanding territorial governance in different institutional and socio-political contexts but also for refining theoretical frameworks that have traditionally been rooted in Western experiences.
A new editorial team has taken the helm of Regional & Federal Studies. They seek to involve emerging scholars from different world regions, bringing renewed vitality to the study of territorial politics and governance, while also fostering greater exchange with other research communities.
Europe: from ‘Europe of the Regions’ to a continent in crisis
For decades, Europe was at the forefront of regionalism studies, driven by the twin processes of European integration and decentralization within member states. The notion of a ‘Europe of the Regions’ gained traction in the late 20th century, fueled by supranational policies and the empowerment of regional governments. The European Union allowed for the mobilization and representation of regional interests bypassing EU member states and challenging liberal intergovernmentalist assumptions regarding the nature of EU politics.
However, this momentum has stalled in the face of political and economic crises. The Eurozone crisis, the rise of nationalist movements, Brexit, and the COVID-19 pandemic have all contributed to a climate of resurgent nationalisms, weakening earlier trends towards more dispersed governance. In several countries, central governments have reasserted authority, often in response to perceived governance failures at the regional level. At the same time, territorial tensions have persisted and grown, with demands for greater autonomy or even independence – most notably in Scotland and Catalonia – clashing with state-wide pressures for unity.
The contradictory integration of some post-communist countries into the European Union, alongside authoritarian tendencies in countries like Hungary and Poland, has further complicated the European regionalism landscape. These countries have faced significant challenges in balancing European integration with domestic political dynamics, where centralization may clash with aspirations for greater regional autonomy and may magnify fractures between urban and rural areas.
The war in Ukraine and continuing tensions in the Balkans also underscore the fragility of territorial stability in the region, with ethno-national conflicts and the re-emergence of territorial disputes. These dynamics raise fundamental questions about the resilience of European regionalism and the future role of regions in an increasingly fragmented continent, as the broader geopolitical context increasingly influences the study of regionalism and federalism.
The Americas: federalism under strain
Federalism has long been a cornerstone of governance in the Americas, shaping political and institutional dynamics in countries such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. Traditionally designed to accommodate territorial diversity, federal arrangements now face growing pressure from deepening socio-economic inequalities. These disparities extend beyond interpersonal inequality to include pronounced interregional divides in resource distribution, access to quality services, and socio-economic outcomes.
In the United States, in addition to divergences between states, urban-rural disparities have been linked to increasing political polarization. In Latin America, federal systems often struggle to address both persistent regional inequalities and demands for decentralization from indigenous and subnational movements. Meanwhile, fiscal decentralization in Brazil and Mexico has exposed tensions between federal and state-level governance, particularly in the context of political shifts towards recentralization. The growing focus on inequality within federal systems points to the need for new research agendas that examine how territorial governance can either mitigate or exacerbate socio-economic (and other) divides. Moreover, the Americas provide important insights into how party organizations adapt to the interaction between federalism and presidentialism and influence democratic processes – a theme touched on earlier in our thematic discussion of democratic backsliding.
Africa: governing ethnic pluralism amid demographic and economic challenges
Africa presents a complex and diverse landscape of territorial governance, shaped by colonial legacies, ethnic pluralism, and rapid demographic change. While some states — notably Ethiopia, Nigeria, and South Africa – have adopted federal or decentralized structures, others remain highly centralized despite deep internal diversity. In such contexts, federalism and devolution have been promoted as tools for polity building, offering mechanisms to manage ethnic and regional tensions and foster more inclusive political and economic systems.
Yet the track record is mixed. In Ethiopia, for instance, federalism has failed to prevent exclusion or ensure equitable access to power among competing groups. Moreover, the imperative of state stability often leads national governments to reassert control over subnational units, creating a paradox at the heart of the federalism debate:a simultaneous promise of empowerment and a (not always subtle) recentralization of authority. When it comes to development, decentralization reforms introduced across Africa have not always delivered the intended outcomes. As noted by Jan Erk, ‘importing formal institutions without regard to the local historical, political, social and economic context risks leaving us with elegant but dysfunctional iron houses in the tropical heat’.
At the same time, Africa’s demographic boom and rapid urbanization are reshaping territorial dynamics, intensifying demands on subnational governance in areas such as service delivery, resource allocation, and political representation. These challenges are compounded by persistent structural economic weaknesses and fragile subnational institutions, which frequently undermine the effectiveness of decentralization reforms. Understanding these dynamics is essential for assessing the evolving role of multi-level governance in shaping Africa’s political and economic future.
South and East Asia: territorial dynamics of development and the tension between democracy and authoritarianism
South and East Asia are home to some of the world’s most complex multi-level governance systems, encompassing both highly centralized states and formal federal arrangements. The experience of decentralization across these regions has been shaped by rapid economic development, urbanization, and, in some cases, a resurgence of authoritarianism. India, as the world’s largest democracy, has a long-standing tradition of federalism. However, increasing centralization under the current government has raised concerns about the erosion of state-level autonomy and the extent to which federal structures can mitigate majoritarian tendencies. In Pakistan’s ‘hybrid regime’, centralization remains a defining feature of its federal system, despite the significant changes introduced by the 18th Amendment in 2010.
China, while not a federal state, exemplifies a distinct model of ‘decentralized authoritarianism’ – granting subnational governments considerable economic and administrative authority while maintaining strict political and ideological control from the centre. In Southeast Asia, countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines have pursued decentralization to strengthen local governance. Yet both continue to face obstacles in ensuring that subnational administrations have the capacity, resources, and autonomy to function effectively.
Further expansion
The geographic overview presented above is not exhaustive, and the editorial team of Regional & Federal Studies recognizes that the emerging challenges of our time – be it the pressures of (and on) globalization, the rise of populism and illiberalism, the growing concerns over inequalities, or the demands of climate change – clearly have a territorial dimension and present new avenues for scholarly investigation.
A broader Asia-Pacific perspective could include countries such as Australia and New Zealand, which provide contrasting but instructive examples of governance. Australia operates under a formal federal system with constitutionally defined powers shared between the federal government and the states. New Zealand, by contrast, is a unitary state. Yet both countries grapple with common governance challenges, including rapid urbanization, climate change, socio-economic disparities, and the recognition of indigenous rights.
The Middle East also merits attention as a region at the intersection of Africa, Asia, and Europe. It is characterized by complex territorial conflicts and deep-rooted governance challenges, particularly in relation to state authority, ethnic and sectarian divisions, and contested claims to autonomy and self-determination. In the wake of civil wars and political upheavals, the region has witnessed the emergence of de facto statehood and hybrid sovereignties, highlighting how formal and informal governance structures increasingly coexist.
Understanding multi-level governance in such a diverse and fragmented global context is essential for drawing meaningful comparative insights across regions.
This blog is an excerpt. Read the full article (open access) by the editors of Regional & Federal Studies:
D. Vampa, F. Boni, A. Fiseha, M. Kenny, M. López-Santana, & M. Zulianello. 2025. Emerging issues and new frontiers in federalism, regionalism and territorial governance: the role of Regional & Federal Studies in shaping future research agendas. Regional & Federal Studies, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/13597566.2025.2518752
