Federalism
Federalism is a governance system of self-rule and shared rule. It is a state order, which divides and shares power and authority among the national and the regional units. In a federation, the national government (e.g. Austria/Bund) and the member states (e.g. the Austrian Bundesländer) fulfill certain tasks independently from each other and certain tasks together. In federalism, the member states keep a degree of statehood, but are united in an overarching entity, the federation.
Why Federalism?
Because modern federalism gives the states and municipalities revenue and expenditure sovereignty in their areas of responsibility. A reform step that would be urgently needed for Austria.
Friedrich Schneider, em. University Professor of Economics, Linz
Because federalism is the most established and effective matrix for managing contemporary complexity.
Francesco Palermo,
Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law University of Verona
Director - Institute for Comparative Federalism, Eurac Research, Bozen
Because politics and authorities in their own federal state are closer to the needs of the people
Greta Lukasser, Student
Because Vienna and Brussels are too far away to see all the details for some decisions.
Werner Preindl, Payroll accountant
Because local people are best able to assess their needs and then make the right decisions for them.
Andreas Cia, Social educator
Social-media-Verbot
Institutsdirektor Peter Bußjäger erörtert das geplante Social-media-Verbot.
Reformpartnerschaft: Neue Impulse aus dem Westen
Ronald L. Watts Young Researcher Award 2026 – Entries Now Open
The call for the Ronald L. Watts Young Researcher Award 2026 is now open.
