The Austrian Länder in a 'Glocal' Network
Sylvia Brunet / Arun Sagar (eds.), Fédéralisme, Décentralisation et Régionalisation de l'Europe, Tome I/II, Editions L’Epitoge-Lextenso, Collection «L’Unité du Droit» XVII (2017) Toulouse & Rouen, 107–123
16 Pages Posted: 6 Oct 2021 Last revised: 20 Jan 2022
Date Written: March 7, 2017
Abstract
Deeply rooted in Austrian history the states of the federation (Länder) are politically very strong while constitutionally quite limited. Their importance as crucial part of Austrian governance between the federal and local level cannot be overestimated. The role of the Länder beyond the nation state seems ambivalent. Their possibilities to participate on a European level depend on their ability of cooperation and coordination; the necessary preconditions to create networks of Länder (states) internationally are, however, missing in the Austrian Constitution. There is still a long way to go to create an appropriate constitutional framework for the Länder to address the glocal challenges of the 21st century.
Keywords: Austria, Federalism, Constitution, Comparative Constitutional Law
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