Constitutional Design for Territorially Divided Societies

6,207
This publication is only available in electronic format
Published: 
3 August 2018
Language: 
English
Pages: 
9
Author(s): 
Tom Ginsburg

Territorial divisions come in many forms. They occur in both federal and unitary states, and may involve divisions based on religion, language, history and identity, as well as natural resources.

They can involve one region within a country or several. Because of the close association of territory and sovereignty, territorial divisions raise very high stakes issues, going to the heart of the definition the political community, national identity and statehood. They are often emotive and can seem intractable.

This Constitution Brief covers the spatial arrangement of public power through constitutional design. By changing the way in which public resources and power are allocated, and autonomy and identity are recognized, constitutional arrangements related to managing territorial divisions can be critical in transforming societal division and conflict to unity and peace.

Contents

1. Background 

2. Allocating powers and duties: federalism

3. Allocating powers and duties: decentralization and special autonomy

4. Central government design: rights, redistribution, representation and recognition

5. Central government design: guarantors and dispute resolution

6. Conclusion

References and further reading

Related Content

Sep
06
2021
Image credit: International IDEA

Image credit: International IDEA

News Article
Dec
11
2020
A Coherence Programme mentor talking to female Executive Members of Aurahi, rural municipality province. Credits of the image: International IDEA.

A Coherence Programme mentor talking to female Executive Members of Aurahi Rural Municipality, Province 2. Credits of the image: International IDEA.

News Article
Jul
08
2020
Image credit: International IDEA

Image credit: International IDEA

Commentary