The United Kingdom as a Quasi-Federal State
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Authors
Horgan, Gerard
Date
1999
Type
working paper
Language
en
Keyword
Alternative Title
Abstract
The United Kingdom is classified as a unitary state. Parliament reigns supreme. There is no formal written constitution, much less a constitutional division of power. Yet, contained within this state are four countries, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, countries with varying economies, histories, and nationalities. How is it possible for the Kingdom to remain unitary? In this paper, we will show that while the United Kingdom is nominally unitary, it is functionally quasi-federal. We will argue that, while the English belief in unity has thus far precluded federation as a solution to the need for divergent public policy to deal with the varying circumstances of the constituent units of the Kingdom, the principles of federalism have informed the devolution of administrative power to these units.
Description
© 1999 IIGR, Queen's University
Citation
Publisher
Queen's University Institute of Intergovernmental Relations