top of page

Introduction to Comparative Federalism

Thiha Wint Aung

Numbers of modules - 6
Languages - English, Burmese

This course covers definitions of federalism; democracy and patterns of democracy; nation-building, unity, and diversity; division of power, constituent units, and local governments in a federal system; fiscal federalism; resource federalism; education and healthcare in federalism; and constitution and federalism. Readings include George Anderson, Ronald Watts, and the Forum of Federations.

Course Abstract

---

Course Modules

---

Introduction to federalism

Lectures

Burmese Audio - Introduction to federalism

Transcripts

Burmese Transcript - Introduction to federalism

Required Readings

Anderson, George. 2008. Federalism: An Introduction. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford University Press. Chapter 1 & 2

Optional Readings

Watts, Ronald L. 2008. Comparing Federal Systems. 3rd ed. Queen’s Policy Studies. Montréal. Chapter 1.

Democracy and Patterns
of Democracy

Lectures

Burmese Audio - Democracy and Patterns of Democracy

Transcripts

Burmese Transcript - Democracy and Patterns of Democracy

Required Readings

Schmitter, Philippe C, and Terry Lynn Karl. “What Democracy Is. . . and Is Not.” Journal of Democracy 2, no. 3 (1991) 75–88..pdf

Optional Readings

Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six Countries. New Haven, Conn. Yale Univ. Press, Second edition, 2012. Chapter 1, 2 & 3..pdf

Nation Building, Unity,
and Diversity

Lectures

Burmese Audio - Nation Building, Unity, and Diversity

Transcripts

Burmese Transcript - Nation Building, Unity, and Diversity

Required Readings

Htet Min Lwin. “Federalism at the Forefront of Myanmar’s Revolution.” Kyoto Review, no. 31 (2021)

Optional Readings

Loh, Francis Kok Wah. “Ethnic Diversity and the Nation State From Centralization in the Age of Nationalism to Decentralization amidst Globalization.” Inter-Asia Cultural Studies 18, no. 3

Division of Power in a Federal System

Lectures

Burmese Audio - Division of Power in a Federal System

Transcripts

Burmese Transcript - Division of Power in a Federal System

Required Readings

Anderson, George. 2008. Federalism An Introduction. Don Mills, Ont. Oxford University Press. Chapter 4 (See Lecture 1)'s download

Optional Readings

Watts, Ronald L. 2008. Comparing Federal Systems. 3rd ed. Queen’s Policy Studies. Montréal. Chapter 5 (Use Lecture 1's download)

Constituent Units in a Federal System

Lectures

Burmese Audio - Constituent Units in a Federal System

Transcripts

Burmese Transcript - Constituent Units in a Federal System

Required Readings

Anderson, George. 2008. Federalism An Introduction. Don Mills, Ont. Oxford University Press. Chapter 4 (See Lecture 1)'s download

Optional Readings

Watts, Ronald L. 2008. Comparing Federal Systems. 3rd ed. Queen’s Policy Studies. Montréal. Chapter 3 (Use Lecture 1's download)

Local governments in a Federal System

Lectures

Burmese Audio - Local governments in a Federal System

Transcripts

Burmese Transcript - Local governments in a Federal System

Required Readings

Forum of Federations. 2019. “Governance of Federal Capital Cities in Federal Countries” in Federal Essays (translated by Htet Min Lwin). Pg. 1-32

Optional Readings

Forum of Federations. 2019. “Local Governments in a Federal System” in Federal Essays (translated by Htet Min Lwin). Pg. 33-48 (Same file as required reading)

Fiscal Federalism

Lectures

Burmese Audio - Fiscal Federalism

Transcripts

Burmese Transcript - Fiscal Federalism

Required Readings

Anderson, George. Fiscal Federalism - A Comparative Introduction. Don Mills, Ont. New York Oxford University Press, 2010. Chapter 1

Optional Readings

Tremblay, Jean-Francois. 2019. Fiscal Arrangements in Selected Federal Countries. 1st ed. Forum of Federations Myanmar Office

Resource Federalism

Lectures

Burmese Audio - Resource Federalism

Transcripts

Burmese Transcript - Resource Federalism

Required Readings

Forum of Federations. 2019. “Natural Resources” in Federal Essays (translated by Htet Min Lwin). Pg. 49-95

Optional Readings

Anderson, George. Fiscal Federalism - A Comparative Introduction. Don Mills, Ont New York Oxford University Press, 2010. Chapter 1 (See Lecture 7's required reading)

Education and Healthcare in Federalism

Lectures

Burmese Audio - Education and Healthcare in Federalism

Transcripts

Burmese Transcript - Education and Healthcare in Federalism

Required Readings

Wong, Kenneth K., Felix Knüpling, Mario Kölling, and Diana Chebenova, eds. Federalism and Education Ongoing Challenges and Policy Strategies in Ten Countries. Chapter 1

Optional Readings

Bossert, Thomas J., and Gregory P. Marchildon, eds. Federalism and Decentralization in Health Care A Decision Space Approach. Toronto ; Buffalo ; London University of Toronto Press, 2018

Wong, Kenneth K., Felix Knüpling, Mario Kölling, and Diana Chebenova, eds. Federalism and Education Ongoing Challenges and Policy Strategies in Ten Countries. Chapter 8

Constitution and Federalism

Lectures

Burmese Audio - Constitution and Federalism

Transcripts

Burmese Transcript - Constitution and Federalism

Required Readings

Watts, Ronald L. 2008. Comparing Federal Systems. 3rd ed. Queen’s Policy Studies. Montréal. Chapter 11 (See Lecture 1)

Optional Readings

Burgess, Michael., Tar, G. Alan., 2020. Federal Constitutions and sub-national constitutionalism

bottom of page