UNDERSTANDING FEDERALISM: HISTORICAL ROOTS AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS

Abstract

Despite being a foundational principle of constitutional governance, federalism has undergone significant transformation across different political and historical contexts. In a pluralistic country like India, federalism assumes critical importance as it provides a constitutional mechanism to accommodate diverse cultural, linguistic and regional identities within a unified political system. This research explores the evolution, core principles and operational mechanisms of federal system of government in order to develop a more dynamic understanding of federalism as an evolving idea. The study aims to adopt a historical and theoretical framework, drawing on classical and contemporary scholarship while critically engaging with major theories to understand the changing role of federalism in governance Existing studies on federalism do not sufficiently explain how its foundational principles have adapted over time to respond to contemporary governance challenges, resulting in a limited understanding of federalism as a dynamic and evolving system. The research seeks to address this gap by examining federalism through a combined historical and theoretical lens. By tracing the historical development of federal ideas and exploring their theoretical interpretations, the study highlights the tension between autonomy and centralisation that has formed federal institutions over time. Additionally, it examines how political consolidation, fiscal restructuring, and crisis governance have impacted federal arrangements, changing how they function in contemporary states. However, the paper underscores that federalism is inherently context-specific rather than universal, and that its effectiveness depends on institutional arrangements shaped by historical and theoretical foundations.