Books in the Federalism series

This volume analyses the problems and instruments of European citizens' political participation and focuses in particular on the "European Citizens' Initiative" (ECI) right; the essays collected in this volume offer reflections on both citizenship rights and themes relating to the European crisis.

The anthology contained in this essay includes twenty writings and speeches by Lord Lothian that enlighten us on the history of British federalism and the history of British Commonwealth (with particular reference to South Africa) in the first half of the twentieth century; and also on the Anglo-American diplomatic relations on the eve of World War II.

What role should the United Nations play in a globalising world? How can it support and embody international democracy? The decline of state sovereignty, an effect of globalisation, is bringing about a crisis both in politics, as a tool to pursue the common good, and in democracy, as the key instrument by which we can control our destinies. The UN, the only organisation with broad political goals and worldwide jurisdiction, has the potential to manage globalisation democratically and promote the common good of humanity. However, it is still controlled by nation states and operates according to power relations typical of the pre-globalisation era. UN reform is therefore crucial, today more than ever. This book examines two areas of reform: first, the creation of a democratic assembly in which world citizens are represented, in order to adapt democracy to meet the challenges of globalisation; and second, the strengthening of the Security Council through democratisation and regionalisation, in order to ensure world security, whose characteristics have evolved significantly in the global age. The contributors come from a wide variety of different backgrounds, including political science, sociology, economics, law, philosophy and history, providing a multifaceted and multidisciplinary debate on this important topic.

The book compares Kant's and Hamilton's political thought. It highlights their complementarity in the development of federalism as a political theory. Contributions focus on issues such as sovereignty, the relationship between democracy and peace and viceversa, the democratic peace and the federalist peace, and the federal institutional model.

The book aims at delving into the relationships of the Secretary general of the World Council of Churches (WCC), W. A. Visser 't Hooft, with the European Resistance movements, as well as at defining his contribution to the elaboration and the circulation of ecumenical and federalist ideas for the unity of Europe.