Federalism and Diversity in Canada (and Beyond)

This course places Canada as a key case in comparative federalism studies, with a particular focus on the management of diversity and conflict. Canada’s federal system often operates on unwritten rules, and through this course, we will examine whether and how the rules can be used to improve governance for a diverse society. Topics include intra-state federalism (in the national parliament and the courts), inter-state federalism (intergovernmental relations between provinces and the federal government), constitutionalism, fiscal federalism, the social union, Indigenous governance, treaty federalism, activism by marginalized groups, and separatism in Quebec and the West.