UNIONS Polities compounded in such a way that the constituent units preserve their respective integrities primarily or exclusively through the common organs of the general government rather than through dual government structures. New Zealand and Lebanon are examples. Belgium prior to becoming a federation in 1993 was an example (when central legislators served also with a dual mandate as regional or community councilors). CONSTITUTIONALLY DECENTRALIZED UNIONS Basically unitary in form in the sense that ultimate authority rests with the central government but incorporate constitutionally protected subnational units of government which have functional autonomy. Examples: Antigua-Barbuda, China, Colombia, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Papua/New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Vanuatu FEDERATIONS Compound polities, combining strong constituent units and a strong general government, each possessing powers delegated to it by the people through a constitution, and each empowered to deal directly with the citizens in the exercise of its legislative, administrative and taxing powers, and each directly elected by the citizens. Currently there are some 23 federations in the world. Examples: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Comoros, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Malaysia, Micronesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia; St. Kitts and Nevis, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Venezuela, Former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia CONFEDERATIONS These occur where several pre-existing polities join together to form a common government for certain limited purposes (for foreign affairs, defence or economic purposes), but the common government is dependent upon the constituent governments, being composed of delegates from the constituent governments and therefore having only an indirect electoral and fiscal base. Historical examples have been Switzerland for most of the period 1291 � 1847 and the United Sates 1776-89. In the contemporary world, the European Union is primarily a confederation although it has increasingly incorporated some features of a federation. Examples: Benelux Economic Union; Caribbean Community, Commonwealth of Independent States, European Union FEDERACIES Political arrangements where a large unit is linked to a smaller unit or units, but the smaller unit retains considerable autonomy and has a minimum role in the government of the larger one, and where the relationship can be dissolved only by mutual agreement. Examples are the relationship of Puerto Rico to the United States and of Bhutan to India. Examples: Denmark, Faroes, Finland, Aaland, India - Kashmir, Portugal, Azores, Portugal, Madeira, UK, Guernsey, UK,Jersey, UK, Man, US, Northern Marianas, US, Puerto Rico ASSOCIATED STATES These relationships are similar to federacies, but they can be dissolved by either of the units acting alone on prearranged terms. Examples are the relationships between the United States and the Marshall Islands, and between New Zealand and the Cook Islands. Examples: France, Monaco, India, Bhutan, Italy,San Marino, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Niue Islands, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, US, Marshal Islands, US - Palau CONDOMINIUMS Political units which function under the joint rule of two or more external states in such a way that the inhabitants have substantial internal self-rule. An example is Andorra which functioned under the joint rule of France and Spain 1278 - 1993. Examples: Andorra, France and Spain LEAGUES Linkages of politically independent polities for specific purposes that function through a common secretariat rather than a government and from which members may unilaterally withdraw. Examples: Arab League, Association of South East Asian Nations, Baltic Assembly, Commonwealth of Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Nordic Council, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation JOINT FUNCTIONAL AUTHORITIES An agency established by two or more polities for joint implementation of a particular task or tasks. The North Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are three of many examples. Such joint functional authorities may also take the form of transborder organizations established by adjoining sub-national governments, e.g. the interstate grouping for economic development involving four regions in Italy, four Austrian L�nder, two Yugoslav republics and one West German Land established in 1978, and the interstate Regio Basiliensis involving Swiss, German and French cooperation in the Basle area. HYBRIDS Some political systems combine characteristics of different kinds of political systems. Examples are Canada initially in 1867 which was basically a federation but contained some quasi-unitary elements; more recently, South Africa (1996), which is a federation retaining some quasi-unitary features; and the European Union after Maastricht which is basically a confederation but has some features of a federation. Hybrids occur because statesmen are often more interested in pragmatic political solutions than in theoretical purity. Ref.: Comparing Federal Systems in the 1990s ; Watts, Ronald L. ; Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada ISBN 0-88911-589-3 |
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