Federalism in the United States

Author: Elinor Ostrom
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: How can a society construct itself so that its members can become free participants in an autonomous order rather than mere subjects of the state? By analyzing the American federal system and reviewing classic works such as The Federalist and Tocqueville's writings, this book elucidates the conditions necessary for creating and maintaining an autonomous society and describes how the system operates. In a world where centralized governments are increasingly distrusted, this topic remains as important as it was 150 years ago when Tocqueville remarked on American society "governing itself for its own sake." Federalism is typically regarded as a theory of government that uses power to check power between opposing and hostile interests. Power is limited, and in society, no group holds supreme control. Although the idea of federalism seems trivial when applied only to the coexistence of state and national governments, it can at least provide a feasible foundation for the development of autonomous organizations and autonomy under conditions of equality, freedom, and justice. The book also highlights the importance of institutional analysis in addressing contemporary global issues. We face a fundamental challenge in understanding and comprehending the foundations of modern governance systems and social arrangements.