Polarization and Power Sharing: Reimagining Federalism for Democratic Resilience

This paper analyses how partisan polarisation impacts on democratic governance with federal systems and the challenges it causes on the institutional stability and intergovernmental relations. It studies how federal systems, which were created to balance unity and diversity, are now under pressure because political polarization is making it harder for central and state governments to cooperate and maintain the balance. On the comparative perspective, paper shows how when political parties’ followers grow more divided and hostile, the exiting power faces the problems between the different levels of the government. Instead of cooperating, each side starts to fight over who should have the authority. The system can become fairer, less dominated by one power by allowing flexibility, independence, cooperation and respect among the governments of different level. Determining the stability in the divided federal democracies depends on the institutions that balance unity and cooperation with regional independence so that democracy doesn’t break down under polarisation.