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A look at how states organize power internally through unitary and federal systems.
Imagine trying to manage a classroom of 30 students from a different building—now imagine trying to manage 300 million people across a continent. How do leaders decide who gets to make the rules?
In a unitary state, the central government holds primary authority. While local administrative units (like departments or provinces) may exist, they only exercise powers that the central government chooses to delegate. This system works best in nation-states with a strong sense of national unity and relatively homogeneous populations. The goal is often efficiency and uniform law across the entire territory. If we represent the total power as a constant, in a unitary system, the central government controls nearly all of it: .
France is the classic example of a unitary state. 1. The central government in Paris sets the national curriculum for schools. 2. Local 'departments' carry out these policies but cannot create their own unique education laws. 3. This ensures that a student in Marseille learns the exact same material as a student in Lille.
Quick Check
In a unitary system, where does a local province get its legal authority?
Answer
From the central government, which grants or 'delegates' that power.
A federal state divides power between a central government and several regional governments (states, provinces, or cantons). This division is usually protected by a constitution, meaning the central government cannot easily take power back. Federalism is a response to centrifugal forces—factors that threaten to pull a state apart, such as vast distances or ethnic diversity. By allowing local regions to control local matters (like speed limits or marriage laws), the state reduces friction at the national level.
Consider the division of power in a federal system: 1. The central government handles 'macro' issues like national defense and currency. 2. Regional units (like US States or German Länder) handle 'micro' issues like education and local policing. 3. This creates a power ratio where , where represents the power of various local units.
Quick Check
Why is a federal system often preferred for geographically large countries like Brazil or Australia?
Answer
Because it is difficult to govern diverse, distant regions effectively from a single central capital.
When a unitary state faces intense pressure from ethnic or regional groups, it may undergo devolution. This is the transfer of certain powers from the central government to lower levels to prevent a total breakup (secession). This creates a 'quasi-federal' look. However, the key difference remains: in federalism, power is a right; in devolution, power is a gift that could theoretically be revoked by the center. This process manages multi-ethnic tensions by giving groups a sense of autonomy.
The UK is technically unitary, but it has used devolution to maintain stability: 1. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland were granted their own parliaments to manage local affairs. 2. This was a response to growing nationalism (a centrifugal force). 3. Challenge: If the UK Parliament in London decided to abolish the Scottish Parliament, it legally could (unitary), but politically it would likely cause a revolution.
Which of the following is a primary characteristic of a federal state?
Why might a multi-ethnic state like Nigeria choose a federal structure?
Devolution in a unitary state is the same thing as being a federal state.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to list three countries that are federal and three that are unitary. Explain why their geography or history might have led to that choice.
Practice Activity
Look at a map of the world's largest countries by land area. Research whether they are unitary or federal. Do you see a pattern?