Institute for Studies on Federalism and Regionalism

The Institute for Studies on Federalism and Regionalism pursues comparative studies and applied research on federal, regional and local governmental trends. The scientific approach is mostly based on legal comparison as a method of analysis of governance in multi-layered systems.

Hierarchy in public law systems worldwide, in both the domestic and international context, loses importance in favor of reticular legal integration  as a consequence of the modern processes in the vertical division of powers.

The trend towards a multi-sphere structure of vertical division of powers is the underlying research assumption of the Institute.

The overall tendency towards decentralization is a crucial element of supranational integration, balancing the evolution of a supranational and integrated form of government and the requirement of efficient decision-making close to the citizen. Hence, not only states, supranational and international institutions, but also regional and local communities, the organized society, and even individuals are recognized as actors of multilevel governance. The Institute investigates the legal tools for coping with the management of ever more complex and plural decision-making, in Europe and worldwide.

Geographically located in between the 'mature' federal systems of Germany, Austria and Switzerland,  and the Italian "federation in the making", the Institute is a crossroads for different approaches to regionalism and federalism. It has thus always paid particular attention to issues such as cross-border cooperation, external powers of sub-national entities and autonomyas a tool for diversity management. The Institute’s location in a territory of well-established, far-reaching and asymmetrical autonomy provides a privileged position to observe and study such phenomena. Thus, its researchers carry out projects and offer scholarly works, courses, conferences and expertise to the scientific and political debate on these issues.

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