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  • Essay / Alfred Stepan and asymmetrical federalism - 1331

    should therefore be a balance between taking into account regional interests and an established integration of each subnational unit into the national federal system (Iff, 2002). On the other hand, asymmetric federalism allows for three possible systems: 1-more power at the national level, 2-certain regional and subnational units will have more power within the national government, or 3-a combination of both. As Andrea Iff suggests, this can sufficiently fuel separatist movements unhappy with the unequal representation of regional interests (Iff, 2002). Disgruntled subnational units may become disillusioned with their country's federal system and attempt to either overthrow the system or secede from the federation to establish local self-governance. Third perspective presented by Alfred Stepan, federalism takes three forms: “gathering”, “holding together” and “assembling” (Stepan, 1999; Abraham, 2005-6). “Joined” federations are situations in which separate sovereign polities agree to establish a political union while preserving political autonomy. “Holding together” federations are an attempt to maintain the unity of an already existing political system by delegating power through the granting of increased autonomy at the subnational level under a less powerful federal government. "Bringing together" federations primarily aim to unite disparate political regimes through coercive means through a centralizing power and tend to produce an undemocratic form of federalism, and constitute an attempt to accommodate diversity in a territorial manner and to compensate for differences. intergroup conflicts (Stepan, 1999). ;Abraham, 2005-6). Specifically, forms of federalism that were transplanted to colonial territories by the British and French during colonization...... middle of paper ...... sometimes support both sides. Ethiopian and Cuban forces successfully pushed back Somali fighters after about 8 months of fighting. National troops have shifted their attention to the long war on the Eritrean border. The Ethiopian victory further reinforced a sense of national pride as well as remarkable military achievement and civilian courage (Tareke, 2000). Map published by the CIA. The Derg's rule, however, was immediately threatened due to internal opposition to its policies. as well as by regional warfare which included the 1977 invasion of Somalia and the continuing Eritrean War of Independence. His policies included an extreme land reform program that nationalized rural land, ended land leasing, and allowed peasants to manage that land. In addition, the Derg nationalized the majority industries. However,