Comparative federalism Europe, U.S.A., Canada

Mme Johanne POIRIER

A sound knowledge of English (both written and spoken)

Federalism is back in fashion ! Despite the mishaps of some of its real-life incarnations, the "federal idea" often summarised by the slogan "unity within diversity" is often presented as the most effective way of maintaining a degree of territorial and social cohesion in a state-like structure, without the disadvantages of forced homogeneity. Nearly 40 % of the world population lives in a federal country. The European Union, Canada and the United States of America represent three historic efforts, in the words of The Federalist Papers, to create complex political institutions by "reason and choice" rather than by "accident and force" (though many in these countries would deny this !) This course engages in comparative analysis of the US, Canadian and European integration processes as a means of enhancing understanding of multi-level/federal systems of government within each union. The approach to the course will be primarily institutional, though historical developments, normative discourse and political debates will also be covered. We will be concerned with the emergence of the federal or neo-federal systems, the institutional "architecture" of these systems, the patterns of interaction between components of the American and Canadian federations, and the multi-level actors at the EU level. We will also address the issue of policy-making and policy-implementation in a federal context

The course compares the EU, the USA and Canada as multi-level and (con)federal complex polities. It adresses methodology and issues of comparability, constitutional, institutional, decision-making and policy-making dimensions. The approach to the course will be primarily institutional, though historical developments, normative discourse and political debates will also be covered

A collection of readings (1 volume) will be available at the PUB Some readings are available through the internet and some may be sent by email (in pdf format)

Campus du Solbosch, 1er quadrimestre

This is a seminar course, and the method is largely participative. Students are expected to have read the material prior to class and to be ready for discussion, cours donné en Anglais

* 15-20 page research paper (around 5-6000 words: 70 % * Class presentation: 20 % * Class participation (readings and discussion): 10 %

total: 5 ECTS (théorie: 2, travaux personnels: 3)

Académie universitaire Wallonie-Bruxelles:

DEUR6: master complémentaire en droit européen - année unique (cours à option)

EURC6: master complémentaire en analyse interdisciplinaire de la construction européenne - année unique (cours à option)

Autres facultés, instituts et écoles:

Ce cours est géré par l'académie universitaire Wallonie-Bruxelles. Cliquez ici pour connaître toutes les autres années d'études où est donné ce cours.