1. Introduction: Puzzles of Multinational Federalism (Alain-G. Gagnon, Arjun Tremblay).- Part I: Multinational Federations at Risk and in Retreat.- 2. Diverse Democracies and the Practice of Federalism (James Kennedy).- 3. When Have Dyadic Federations Succeeded and When Have They Failed?  A Comparative Analysis of Bipolar Federalism around the World (Christoph Niessen, Min Reuchamps, Dejan Stjepanović, Augustin Habra).- 4. Assessing the Spanish State’s Response to Catalan Independence: The Application of Federal Coercion (Lucía Payero-López).- Part II: The Stalled Emergence of Multinational Federalism.- 5. Origins and Consequences of American Multicultural Federalism: Constitutional Patriotism, Territorial Neutrality, and National Polarisation (John Kincaid).- 6. ‘Nested Newness’ and the Quality of Self-Government: The Case of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Susan J. Henders).- 7. Federalism, Democracy and National Diversity in 21st Century China: Reinterpreting HongKong’s Autonomy, Subverting its Democracy (Jean-François Dupré).- Part III: Recognizing and Accommodating National and Other Diversities: Success or Failure?.- 8. Internal Migration in Asian Multinational Countries: Attitudes, Challenges and Institutions (Isabelle Côté, Mira Raatikainen).- 9. Immigration Federalism, Multinational States, and Subnational Communities: Comparing Flanders and Quebec (Catherine Xhardez).- 10. Relative Deprivation and Perceived Discrimination among Quebec’s English-Speaking Minority Communities: ‘Second-Class Citizens’ in a Multi-National Context? (Pierre-Olivier Bonin).- 11. Internal Migration, Ethnic Federalism, and Differentiated Citizenship in an African Federation: the Case of Ethiopia (Yonatan T. Fessha and Beza Dessalegn).- 12. Ensuring a Future for Indigenous Languages in Canada: Can ‘Consequentialist’ Multinational Federalism Provide an Answer? (Emmanuelle Richez, Tejas Pandya).- Part IV. Conclusion.- 13. Roadblocks and Roadmaps to Multinational Federalism (Alain-G. Gagnon, Arjun Tremblay).

This edited volume explores the obstacles to and opportunities for the development and entrenchment of a sustainable and representative multinational federalism. In doing so, it tackles a striking puzzle: on the one hand, scholars agree that deeply diverse multinational and multiethnic democracies should adopt federal structures that reflect and empower territorially concentrated diversity. On the other hand, there are very few, if any, real examples of enshrined and fully operative substantive multinational federalism. What are the main roadblocks to the adoption of multinational federalism? Can they be overcome? Is there a roadmap to realizing multinational federalism in the twenty-first century? In addressing these questions, this book brings together scholars from across the globe who explore a diverse range of cases from different and innovative analytical approaches. The chapters contribute to answering the above questions, each in their own way, while also addressing other important aspects of multinational federalism. The book concludes that the way forward likely depends on the emergence of a specific set of norms and a receptiveness to the complex institutional design.Alain-G. Gagnon is Professor in the Department of Political Science at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada, and Founding Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Diversity and Democracy. He has authored more than 500 works in political sociology, federal studies and Canadian politics. His research has been translated into twenty languages. Arjun Tremblay is Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Regina, Canada, and author of Diversity in Decline? The Rise of the Political Right and the Fate of Multiculturalism (2019). His research focuses on the near and longer-term prospects of multiculturalism, multinational federalism, and other diversity-oriented projects.

​“Federalism is increasingly being looked at as a tool for accommodation of ethno-national diversity worldwide. At the same time, there is little awareness of what approaches, institutions and procedures are required to achieve recognition through federalism in multinational contexts. This seminal book addresses challenges and opportunities to be taken into account when dealing with federalism and diversity. A must-read.” (Francesco Palermo, Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law, University of Verona, and Head of the Institute for Comparative Federalism at Eurac Research, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy)“This collection of casestudies represents an original and important contribution by a group of eminent and emerging scholars who provide lucid analyses of the institutions and practices of devolved autonomies for national and other minorities. What are the ingredients of a substantive multinational federalism? While no one roadmap reveals itself, Gagnon and Tremblay identify institutional ingredients and cultural norms that are crucial to realizing the ‘federal promise’ of diverse multinational states.” (James Bickerton, Professor of Political Science, St. Francis Xavier University, Canada)“As majoritarian nationalist movements challenge many of the practices and institutions which have evolved to recognise and accommodate diversity in complex societies, this is a timely and important volume. Contributors offera genuinely global perspective on the challenges and prospects for federalism in multi-national settings, and break new ground by foregrounding challenges that were frequently absent in earlier scholarship such as the rights of internal migrants, and minorities within minorities. This wide-ranging collection will be invaluable as a resource for teaching and for researchers.” (Louise Tillin, Reader in Politics, King’s College London, UK)

Contributes to the understanding of the workings of multinational federations Includes single case studies and comparative pieces as well as theoretical discussions on federalism in multinational settings Addresses the concerns of non-territorial minorities or minorities in minorities