February/MARCH 2008

EDITORIAL

• Editor’s Column By Rod Macdonell
• In the News

News

• Nepal proclaims itself a ‘federal democratic republic’
• U.K. devolution hits a snag after 10 years
• Suharto’s iron fist brought 32 years of centralized stability to Indonesia
• Nigeria’s new leader promises to curb corruption, enhance services
• Malaysian PM faces pressure from ethnic and pro-democracy forces
• Kirchners swap keys to Argentina’s executive suite

Special Section:
cities AND THEIR AGENDAs

• Canada’s federal government reluctant to fund cities
• Brazil: a tale of two cities
• Brazil: another view of the two cities
• Local governments claim their space in the Spanish system
• How democracy returned to Spain
• South African cities tackle new challenges
• Cities and villages in India push for greater powers

President's page

• Words count in federations, where ‘shared-rule’ is a misnomer

All issues

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editorial

Editor's Column

BY rod macdonell

In this issue of Federations we have put together for you a mix of compelling news stories and a series of thematic articles about local government in five key federal countries (see pages 11-22).

Our cover story is about Cristina Kirchner, an experienced and deft politician in her own right, taking over the presidency of Argentina from her husband, Néstor, in an electoral victory last October.
Ms Kirchner will not be governing alone though. The writers of the article, economists Miguel Braun and Martin Ardanaz, note that presidential power in Argentina is counterbalanced by powerful governors and strong federal institutions.

Our article about Nepal is a first in this magazine, mainly because the country, sandwiched between China and India, only recently transformed itself from a kingdom and adopted a federal constitution, a provisional one at that.

The writer, Alaya Bhardra Khanal, the acting editor of the Himalayan Times, explains how the country’s recent troubled history has brought it to the brink of federalism, a system that could gain traction among the country’s diverse ethnic groups.

In Nigeria, the people expect President Umaru Yar’Adua to provide an adequate supply of drinking water, electricity, health services, educational facilities and roads. He has yet to fill this tall order.
Journalist Martins Oloja, the public affairs writer with Nigeria’s Guardian newspaper, writes that a “dysfunctional federal system and the lack of a culture of public service have made democratic institutions unaccountable” in Nigeria.

In Indonesia, the centre has been cautiously ceding powers to the provinces and the country has remained intact. Ridwan Max Sijabat of the Jakarta Post observes that in contrast to the recently deceased president Suharto, the non-confrontational style of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has allowed the decentralization process to continue in an orderly fashion.

In neighboring Malaysia, Sonia Randhawa, of the Centre for Independent Journalism, explains that the ruling coalition, which has held power for 45 years straight, has faced down two recent political demonstrations with thousands of protesters demanding electoral reform and an end to alleged ethnic discrimination. Contrary to the trend in many contemporary federations, the federal government in Malaysia claws powers away from the states.

Back in the United Kingdom the piecemeal devolution of power is bedeviling, according to the analysis of Charlie Jeffrey, a professor of politics at the University of Edinburgh. There are still gaping holes, such as determining the role of the ancient Parliament at Westminster.

- Rod Macdonell, Senior Editor

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