LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Political Science 3338 WA
Comparative Federalism
Dr. Gary Munro
Office: RB 2035
Telephone: 343-8284
E-Mail: gary.munro@lakeheadu.ca
Tuesday& Thursday: 10:00-11:30 a.m.
RB 3024
Suggested Essay Topics
Length: 3,000 words
Keep a copy of your essay.
Use modern languages association system of citation.
1) Consider the problems of federations in which there are two major language groups.
What problems arise in maintaining national unity and good relations between
language groups? (Czechoslovakia, Pakistan, Canada, Belgium)
2) Compare the different approaches to equalization of various federal states ranging
from no equalization in the United States to extensive equalization in Germany What
are the sources of these differences?
3) Examine the role of upper houses in federations. Does an intrastate approach to
federalism improve the performance of federalism?
4) Compare the impact of federalism on the issue of the environment in Canada and the
United States. Does Canada lack “a California” ( that is a province that can be a
leader)?
5) Is the European Union a federal state? What impact does the “democratic deficit”
have on the federal character of Europe?
6) Compare federal states’ approaches to maintaining the economic union.
7) What impact does an entrenched bill of rights have on federalism? Does it centralize
the federation?
8) Is federalism the wave of the future? Why have various states adopted federalism?
(e.g. Belgium, Spain, Mexico)
9) Examine competition between states for investment within federal states. Does this
lead to a” race to the bottom” undermining social welfare spending, environmental
standards etc?