ABSTRACT
International affairs may seem an unusual subject to discuss in the context of regional government. Yet the satisfactory resolution of international responsibilities is a key area of conflict in most regionalised states. The classic federal distribution of powers places international affairs within the domain of the nation-state level, with regional or devolved governments having responsibility for domestic affairs. This traditional concept of ‘layer cake’ federalism is fundamentally flawed. Although the national tier may be given the authority to engage in international relations, and to enter into agreements on behalf of the state as a whole, does this include the ability to impose such agreements on the regional level within their fields of domestic competence?
