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?

Bild von Franz Jirka, Unternehmer und Spartenobmann Gewerbe & Handwerk der WK Tirol
Because each federal state has its own particularities and for these particularities, tailor-made, regional solutions are needed.

Franz Jirka, Unternehmer und Spartenobmann Gewerbe & Handwerk der WK Tirol

Bild von Francesco Palermo,
Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law University of Verona
Director - Institute for Comparative Federalism, Eurac Research, Bozen
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

Bild von Greta Lukasser, Student
Because politics and authorities in their own federal state are closer to the needs of the people

Greta Lukasser, Student

Bild von Hans Unterdorfer, Member of the Executive Board, Corporate Clients, Erste Bank
Because only well-maintained regional structures make true customer proximity possible. For local banks, this proximity is essential because personal advice on site is and remains the core of their work.

Hans Unterdorfer, Member of the Executive Board, Corporate Clients, Erste Bank

Bild von Wolfgang Sparer, Leiter des Bildungsconsultings
Because a federal state forms a brand on the outside and an identity on the inside. Society and the economy need both: external glamour and internal meaning.

Wolfgang Sparer, Leiter des Bildungsconsultings

Publication series | 22.10.2026

Neue Wege der Allgemeinen Staatslehre


Publication series | 22.10.2026

Die Teilnahme der Bundesländer am europäischen Integrationsprozeß


Guest commentaries | 16.10.2026

UVP


Institutsdirektor Peter Bußjäger beschäftigt sich mit UVP-Verfahren und dem Entwurf einer Änderung des UVP-Gesetzes.



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