The monolithic cross-shaped church of St George in Lalibela, Ethiopia, is one of 11 sunken rock-hewn churches that  draw tens of thousands of foreign tourists every year. According to legend, angels helped King Lalibela build the churches in the 11th and 12th century after he received an order from God to create a new Jerusalem in Ethiopia.

Federations magazine is about what's new in federalism worldwide. It is a news magazine of reports on current developments in federal systems of government.


 

This same stack of euros might be shakier today in Spain than it is in Germany. As federal countries battle the economic crisis, some have been more heavily hit than others, and each has used different anti-crisis medicine - as shown in the articles that make up this special issue. Leading economist Richard Bird puts it all into perspective and

REUTERS/Irada Humbatova

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia agreed in 2007 that Ethiopia would host the 5th International Conference on Federalism. The conference is taking place from December 13 to 16, 2010 in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.


Federations: Volume 10, Number 1, december 2010/january 2011

Special SECTION-
FOCUS ON AFRICA

Prime Minister Meles explains his vision for Ethiopia Interview by Shawn Houlihan

Federalism and Africa By George Anderson

Federal systems not new to Africa By J. Isawa Elaigwu

African countries decentralize By Dele Olowu

Creating a regional civil service in Ethiopia from the ground up
By Hashim Tewfik

East Africa now has a common market, but political integration is far off
By Lucas Barasa

South Africa’s federal features are nominal By Thabo Mohlala

Regional integration draws support By Dele Olowu and Remi Ajibewa

Africa conference sets many precedents By Carl Stieren


NEWS

Obama woos state and local governments with federal funds
By Alan Greenblatt

Declaring itself ‘federal’ was easy for Nepal By Irina Shmakova

India’s states follow divergent paths By Ash Narain Roy

Pakistan empowers its provinces By Cyril Almeida

Spanish court strikes down parts of Catalonia’s draft constitution
By Violeta Ruiz Almendral

Australia turns to COAG to take on hot-button issues By Phillip Gonzalez

Federations and the Environment:
Brazil By Marcelo Leite (Brazil)
Switzerland By Caroline Zuercher