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Intergovernmental Relations

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Encyclopedia of Contemporary Constitutionalism

Abstract

The entry explores intergovernmental relations from a multidisciplinary perspective and considering both (constitutional) law in the text and law-in-action, while dwelling into certain paradigmatic cases as well as comparative studies. The first part looks at theoretical and methodological considerations, including clarification of similar concepts and the main types and areas of intergovernmental relations in federal systems. It then moves to the most important institutions, actors, and instruments by which intergovernmental relations are manifested. Later, it addresses contemporary challenges posed by the increasing relevance of crisis management, analysis of the experiences and lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the normative challenges that executive intergovernmental relations raise to federal democracy. Finally, the last part highlights emerging trends to contemporary constitutionalism, marked by the federal predominance of powers and resources distribution, and the inclusion of local governments and formally nonfederal cases into the research agenda.

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Essential Readings

  • Agranoff, Robert. 1986. Intergovernmental management: Human services problem solving in six metropolitan areas. Albany: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fessha, Yonatan, Karl Kössler, and Francesco Palermo, eds. 2022. Intergovernmental relations in divided societies. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hueglin, Thomas, and Alan Fenna. 2015. Comparative federalism: A systematic inquiry. Toronto: Broadview Press.

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  • Ongaro, Edoardo, Andrew Massey, Marc Holzer, and Ellen Wayenberg, eds. 2010. Governance and intergovernmental relations in the European Union and the United States. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

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  • Palermo, Francesco, and Elisabeth Alber, eds. 2015. Federalism as decision-making. Leiden: Brill | Nijhoff. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004274518.

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  • Palermo, Francesco, and Karl Kössler. 2017. Comparative federalism. Constitutional arrangements and case law. Portland: Hart Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poirier, Johanne, Cheryl Saunders, and John Kincaid, eds. 2015. Intergovernmental relations in Federal Systems. Comparative structures and dynamics. Don Mills: Oxford University Press.

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  • Wright, Deil. 1988. Understanding intergovernmental relations. Pacific Grove: Brooks Cole Publishing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile, and Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Esteban Szmulewicz Ramírez

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  1. Esteban Szmulewicz Ramírez
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Correspondence to Esteban Szmulewicz Ramírez .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo Abogados, Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Javier Cremades

  2. Philosophy of Law, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Cristina Hermida

Section Editor information

  1. Institute for Comparative Federalism, University of Verona and Eurac Research, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy

    Francesco Palermo

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Szmulewicz Ramírez, E. (2023). Intergovernmental Relations. In: Cremades, J., Hermida, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Contemporary Constitutionalism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31739-7_221-1

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