Explaining Territorial Change in Federal Democracies

A Comparative Historical Institutionalist Approach

Bibliographic Data

ID6345265
AuthorsLouise Tillin (0000-0002-2788-9909, King's College London, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume63
Issue3
Pages626-641
Publication date2015-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0032-3217 • E-ISSN: 1467-9248
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1111/1467-9248.12118
OpenAlexW1857269501
LanguageEN
Citations received17
References cited44

This article builds a framework drawn from historical institutionalism to analyse changes to the territorial composition of federal systems arising from the creation or admission of new sub-units. Despite the sustained interest among political scientists in the effects of federal design on ethnic conflict, economic development and prospects for democratic stability, there has been little sustained attempt to explain when and why territorial maps change over time. A historical institutionalist framework draws attention to the ways in which constellations of internal borders are underpinned by – and reproduce – patterns of power. The framework explains territorial change by studying the multiple layers that structure political life in federal settings and which through their interactions produce change. The article proceeds to explain territorial change in two countries with contrasting federal origins: India and the United States. In so doing, it questions the tendency within comparative politics to treat both countries as places of exception

Comparative case · Democracy · Ethnic group · Historical institutionalism · Institutional change · Institutionalism · New institutionalism · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Regime change · Sociology · Irish and British Studies · Law · Political Systems and Governance · Public Administration · Social Policy and Reform Studies

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