ABSTRACT
There is greater scholarly and policy attention paid to federalism. There is a consensus among scholars that there is no single model of federalism to be prescribed and also that particular countries concerned will combine appropriately shared rule and self-rule within the single policy. This conceptual chapter offers a critical understanding of the origin and development of the idea of federalism and federations and points out its relevance for multi-ethnic diverse countries in the post-Soviet and post-globalization era. It shows how a new condition of ‘diminished state sovereignty’ and the weakening of the conventional national identity have cleared the deck for greater interest in federalism. That the federal idea is associated with the concern for unity along with the recognition of diversity has been reassuring to the rulers and also that the fear of the ‘F’ word was to be removed in favour of assessing its positive values are also discussed here. In conclusion, the greater need for federalism in Asia as a solution to its long-term ethnic conflicts for ensuring endurable political order and legitimacy is stressed.
