Federalism or Centralism?

[Hitro]

This is a classic question in Republics. In a monarchy centralism is usually the only logical way. But despite being a Monarchist or a Republican someone may have different opinions.

What do you favour and more important: why?

I'm also interested to see if it matters what people are used to.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

Perhaps it would be of assistance if you were to expand upon what you actually mean for the various options, and put forth some workable definitions of the key terms.
I believe I reside under a Federalist system, but would like to see your definitions before I expand and expound.

 

[Hitro]

Okay...
Well when I was writing Federalism I meant a system of government in a country, that distributes power between the Federal government and several state governments (example: the United States). Of course the extend of that distribution may differ, but that would lead to too many options for the poll.

Centralism is a form of government where the power is concentrated at a central government, that has far greater control over its provinces than a Federal government has over its states (examples: France, but also the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany).

Now someone might ask why there's a communist option. The thing is that theoretical communism is neither Federalism (as a commune is not a federal state) nor centralism in the real sense.
So someone who regards himself as a 'true communist' might have been unsatisfied with the other options.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

In that case, I go for strong fascist centralism

 

[Sixchan]

I hate saying 'me too', so I won't say it but, well, you know what I mean.

 

[Greadius]

Divided government and Federalism!!!

Balance of power is indispensible to a free nation, and local power is vital to a free people.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

Originally posted by Greadius
Divided government and Federalism!!!

Balance of power is indispensible to a free nation, and local power is vital to a free people.

The way you put it, you'd imagine freedom was a good thing!

 

[ainwood]

Originally posted by Sixchan
I hate saying 'me too', so I won't say it but, well, you know what I mean.

Ah ha! the cunning "say it in a statement saying why you won't say it" ruse for actually saying what you wanted to say all along.

And does a local Mayor count for federal? Otherwise NZ is firmly a centralist model (with possibly one of the world's few left-wing fascists at the helm )

 

[Damien]

My favorite country being Switzerland...i prefer of course federalism.
It respects the particularities,make the power nearer,enhance the sense of community n citizenship.
Moreover,it prevents the state(the central one in central state) from putting in competition the communities(the states)-as it was done in France n Italy);from creating "trash regions"(Flemish speaking France for example).In central"democracies" regions are made different n their interests are put in competition in the parliament so that one guy comes n say:this will never end....give me all the power to make you agree n make the nation step forward.(This was done in 1958 by Charles de Gaulle)

 

[Vrylakas]

I'm all for Federalism but I think it really depends what country you live in. Countries that have a strong history of diverse regions with their own independent histories like the U.S., Canada, Germany, Russia, etc. are best able to realize all the benefits of Federalism, but countries with a history of a strong central authority may not be as able to. Poland or France both have powerful centripital historical traditions, while Germany or the U.S. have powerful centrifugal traditions.

When my wife and I went back to Poland last September, we found ourselves wandering across unfamiliar borders because the government had drastically reorganized the wojewodstwo (provincial) borders, eliminating dozens of wojewodstwy. Can you imagine Washington deciding to consolidate the 50 states into 15? That's the issue, that in Poland power derives from Warsaw while in the U.S. power derives from a complex contractual agreement between sovereign states and a central authority. In short, in Poland Warsaw makes the states but in the U.S. the states make Washington. Federalism is very successful but I'm not so sure countries like France or Poland would be very good at finding that balance between local and national authority that is critical in Federalism. The Russians have the best case for becoming a Federalist state with their vast and disparate territories and they are one - in name, at least. In reality, Russia is still one of the most powerfully-centralized states. While there has been progress, Moscow just doesn't seem able to let go of its authority.

So maybe history plays a critical factor in the success for Federal states...

 

[Reichsmarshal]

Federalism is better than Centralism.

In a battle of Confederacy vs Unitarian (spelling?) Confederacy is superior.