EXTENSION of Call for Case Studies: New Submission Deadline 28 February 2010
The case studies should try to directly address one of the questions listed in the issue paper. The time allocated for the presentation of each of the cases will be seven minutes.
Practitioners and experts with experience relating to any of the topics and questions listed in the issue paper (excerpted below) are welcome to send an abstract by February 28, 2010. The conference seeks a balanced participation regarding gender, professional experience and regions. Hence, women and young professionals are especially encouraged to submit their abstracts.
Abstracts should contain a brief outline (250 word limit) of the case and its relation to the question it is going to address, a short CV of the presenter and, if available, a sample of previous presentations or publications. A team of experts will select the case studies to be presented during the 5th International Conference on Federalism.
Please send abstracts to:
5th International Conference on Federalism Secretariat
P.O. Box 57785
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
e-mail: secretariat@5thicfethiopia.org
Topics of the 5th International Conference
The theme 'Equality and Unity in Diversity for Development' will be discussed under five topics. These topics, to be considered in parallel, are as follows:
Topic 1: Federalism and the Democratization Process
What conditions make federalism a necessary form of state, and what are the major constitutional and institutional challenges to federal states in the initial stages?
How do newly federalizing and democratizing countries address the challenges of bridging the gap between democratic federal institutions and authoritarian political cultures?
What are the roles of domestic and external actors (civic, financial, political, etc.) in facilitating or frustrating the federalization and democratization processes?
Topic 2: The Impacts of Regionalization and Globalization on Federations
What is the impact of sub-regionalization, regionalization and globalization on federations?
What lessons could be learned from the experience of federal systems under developed regional arrangements elsewhere in the world for the design and operation of regional integration in Africa and other regions of the world?
What lessons can be learned from the practices followed in the course of international cooperation involving federal type states?
Topic 3: Unity in Diversity through Federalism
How can the imperatives of unity and diversity be reconciled during the formation of federations?
What kinds of policies are favorable for maintaining unity in diversity in the operation of a federation?
How can federations protect and accommodate minorities and disadvantaged groups?
Topic 4: Federalism and Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution Mechanisms
What factors have proven key to the success (or failure) of federalism to play its potential role in reversing deep-rooted conflict?
What have been the experience and results in the use of 'last-resort' mechanisms (e.g., courts, second chambers) in resolving significant conflicts in federations?
What lessons can be learned from how federations deal with security matters, including intergovernmental relations and traditional institutions and practices at the national and other levels?
Topic 5: Fiscal Federalism and Equitable Development
What factors can guide the assignment of responsibilities and revenue-raising powers towards promoting equitable development and reducing potential fiscal conflicts?
How can federations promote fiscal responsibility, accountability and transparency in a context of fiscal interdependence between levels of government?
How can federations or potential federations work to reconcile regional and national interests, both economic and environmental, in natural resources such as oil, gas, minerals, water and forests?
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