13: Intervention in federal systems: underlying rationales, legal bases, procedures and politics

This chapter explores the tension between federal intervention and the autonomy of subnational and local governments. Drawing on comparative case studies from ten jurisdictions across three continents, it examines the rationales for intervention, the constitutional and legal frameworks that govern i...

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Main Authors: Kössler, Karl, T. Fessha, Yonatan
Format: Online
Language:English
Published: Edward Elgar Publishing 2026
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Online Access:https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/177663
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author Kössler, Karl
T. Fessha, Yonatan
author_browse Kössler, Karl
T. Fessha, Yonatan
author_facet Kössler, Karl
T. Fessha, Yonatan
author_sort Kössler, Karl
collection Directory of Open Access Books
description This chapter explores the tension between federal intervention and the autonomy of subnational and local governments. Drawing on comparative case studies from ten jurisdictions across three continents, it examines the rationales for intervention, the constitutional and legal frameworks that govern it and the safeguards intended to prevent abuse. The analysis highlights how intervention powers, though designed to correct governance failures and uphold constitutional principles, are often susceptible to political instrumentalisation and procedural shortcuts. Examples from different jurisdictions illustrate the dual nature of intervention as both a necessary corrective tool and a potential instrument of coercion. The chapter finds that interventions may resolve immediate crises but frequently fail to address underlying problems and, in some cases, exacerbate dysfunction or erode local autonomy. It calls for a careful balance – intervention powers must be strong enough to preserve federal integrity without undermining subnational self-governance.
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spelling doab-20.500.12854ir-1776632026-06-12T14:21:39Z 13: Intervention in federal systems: underlying rationales, legal bases, procedures and politics Kössler, Karl T. Fessha, Yonatan Federalism; Grounds of Intervention; Intervention; Procedures of Intervention; Subnational Autonomy LND LAM LNX JP This chapter explores the tension between federal intervention and the autonomy of subnational and local governments. Drawing on comparative case studies from ten jurisdictions across three continents, it examines the rationales for intervention, the constitutional and legal frameworks that govern it and the safeguards intended to prevent abuse. The analysis highlights how intervention powers, though designed to correct governance failures and uphold constitutional principles, are often susceptible to political instrumentalisation and procedural shortcuts. Examples from different jurisdictions illustrate the dual nature of intervention as both a necessary corrective tool and a potential instrument of coercion. The chapter finds that interventions may resolve immediate crises but frequently fail to address underlying problems and, in some cases, exacerbate dysfunction or erode local autonomy. It calls for a careful balance – intervention powers must be strong enough to preserve federal integrity without undermining subnational self-governance. Published 2026-06-12T14:21:34Z 2026-06-12T14:21:34Z 2026-05-14 chapter 9781035348268 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/177663 eng image/jpeg Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/the-law-and-politics-of-intervention-in-federal-systems-9781035348251.html https://www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap-oa/book/9781035348268/chapter13.xml Edward Elgar Publishing Edward Elgar Publishing 10.4337/9781035348268.00017 10.4337/9781035348268.00017 01ceac28-75b4-492a-8eec-f9b98bc6b28c 9781035348268 Edward Elgar Publishing Cheltenham, UK open access
spellingShingle Federalism; Grounds of Intervention; Intervention; Procedures of Intervention; Subnational Autonomy
LND
LAM
LNX
JP
Kössler, Karl
T. Fessha, Yonatan
13: Intervention in federal systems: underlying rationales, legal bases, procedures and politics
title 13: Intervention in federal systems: underlying rationales, legal bases, procedures and politics
title_full 13: Intervention in federal systems: underlying rationales, legal bases, procedures and politics
title_fullStr 13: Intervention in federal systems: underlying rationales, legal bases, procedures and politics
title_full_unstemmed 13: Intervention in federal systems: underlying rationales, legal bases, procedures and politics
title_short 13: Intervention in federal systems: underlying rationales, legal bases, procedures and politics
title_sort 13 intervention in federal systems underlying rationales legal bases procedures and politics
topic Federalism; Grounds of Intervention; Intervention; Procedures of Intervention; Subnational Autonomy
LND
LAM
LNX
JP
topic_facet Federalism; Grounds of Intervention; Intervention; Procedures of Intervention; Subnational Autonomy
LND
LAM
LNX
JP
url https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/177663
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