Why do we have different levels of the government? Federalism Explained
The countries we live in are large. Managing and governing them becomes a very big challenge. This is where countries employ various political and legal solutions to overcome this. What does the government do- solve people's problems.
A simple way to do it is to classify the problems. There are problems that people face every day, and there are some that they face rarely. There are some problems that are experienced directly and some indirectly. There are also problems that someone closer to them can solve better and others that people who are very far can solve.
Why does your local government collect the garbage? The state government looks after law and order, and the central government controls the military?
Why not the local government look after law and order, the state government controls the military, and the central government collects your garbage?
So there are specific reasons why and how tasks are assigned.
History and Origins of Federalism
Initially, the governments were highly centralised, and they tried to control all parts of the territories from the capital. It became very hard for countries to control the distant parts of their territories. Many countries have had decentralised governance for a very long time, but still, there has been no single solution by countries around the world to solve the governance problem.
In 1776, thirteen US colonies came together to oust their coloniser, Great Britain, and work together. In 1777, they called themselves a confederation and made a mini-constitution. All of them had equal bargaining power and were equal. The world's first federal country was formed.
Federalism is an important tool used to share power, and today it is adopted by countries across the world. It divides the authority between the central government and its constituents. Countries around the aisle have adopted this idea to manage their territories. Federal countries follow a multiple-tier governance system to help their societies function efficiently.
Why Federalism?
Big countries tend to be gigantic, have a vast population, and have diverse groups. Addressing various concerns and catering to specific needs requires a specialised approach. The best example of this is India, where different parts of the country speak multiple languages. Hence, India implemented the idea of linguistic states to address the local and cultural identities. It also enhances democratic participation at various levels of governance.
Secondly, the most important reason why we need federalism is that locals know and understand their problems well. For example, a city's traffic problems, which crop is the best suited for the villages' soil, and what should be the route for the road connecting two cities in the same part of the country, etc.
Thirdly, there is a strong need for decentralisation and separation of powers. Every democracy tries to reduce the concentration of power in one or a few hands. This not only prevents authoritarian tendencies but also reduces corruption.
Comments
Post a Comment