The
Dynamics of Decentralization:
Canadian Federalism and British Devolution
Edited by Trevor C. Salmon and Michael Keating
The constitutional differences between federal Canada and unitary Britain use to appear to be clear. However in recent times the Canadian federal system has become increasingly fluid and Britain has embarked on the path of devolution to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In The Dynamics of Decentralization the authors discuss and evaluate the questions raised by these issues.
Are political and socio-economic issues handled in a radically different manner in a federal Canada than a devolved Britain? To what extent in both states have administrative arrangements and developments in public policy begun to by-pass constitutional forms and debates? Are the real loci of power in each better identified by "following the money" than by constitutional and legal provisons? If the arrangements between the state capitals and the constituent parts of Canada and Britain are becoming more ad hoc, individual and varied, what problems does this pose for the continuing cohesion of their systems? In The Dynamics ofDecentralization leading Canadian and British authorities, practioners and academics, plot their way through these minefields and offer insight into the current stage of development.
Trevor C. Salmon is Professor of international relations, University of Aberdeen, and a professor of the College of Europe.
Michael Keating is professor of Scottish politics, University of Aberdeen, and also holds a Chair in Regions at the European University Institute in Florence.
School of Policy Studies
March 2001 6x9 204 pp
Paper ISBN 0-88911-895-7 $24.95
To order: The McGill-Queen's Press
