How do governments in multilingual federal countries approach the use of language in different areas? How do governance institutions in federations shape language provisions and accommodate the language needs of different linguistic communities?

In the concluding episode of our mini-series on language policy and federalism, we take a deep dive into how language policies in Canada, India and South Africa have attempted to navigate the opportunities and tensions of language in federations. We explore how language issues manifest in government administration and services, examine how colonial histories shape minority vs. majority language debates, and delve into the particularly tricky area of language in education.

Joining us on this episode:

Leslie Seidle, Public Policy Consultant and Senior Advisor, Forum of Federations

Asha Sarangi, Professor of Political Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Linda Cardinal, Assistant Vice Rector Research, Université de l’Ontario français

Miranda Huron, Director of Indigenous Affairs and Education, Capilano University

Michelle Maziwisa, Programme Manager, Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa Master's Programme, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria

Also featuring:

Liam Whittington, Senior Program Manager, Forum of Federations

Jamie Thomas, Program Officer, Forum of Federations

The Forum’s compendium on language policy in federations is out now! Download Language Policy in Federal and Devolved Countries - The Collected Works for free! 

If you're looking for more cutting-edge multilevel governance content, check out our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channels. Stay tuned to forumfed.org and our social media channels for more info on our publications and events.

Get in touch with the podcast! Send us your thoughts on this and other episodes, as well as ideas for future topics you’d like to hear discussed, to [email protected].

Written and hosted by Jamie Thomas and Liam Whittington.

Produced by Liam Whittington.

Why is language such an important factor in how people live their daily lives in federations? How does language impact on how people interact with governance systems and each other in federal and multilevel countries?

In the first part of our two part mini-series on language policy and federalism, we explore language and its relationship to identity, community, and the state. And we delve in to the complex issue of language dynamics in Canada, India and South Africa.

Joining us on this episode:

Leslie Seidle, Public Policy Consultant and Senior Advisor, Forum of Federations

Asha Sarangi, Professor of Political Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Linda Cardinal, Assistant Vice Rector Research, Université de l’Ontario français

Miranda Huron, Director of Indigenous Affairs and Education, Capilano University

Michelle Maziwisa, Programme Manager, Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa Master's Programme, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria

The Forum’s compendium on language policy in federal and devolved countries will be out soon! Stay tuned to forumfed.org and our social media channels for more info.

If you're looking for more cutting-edge multilevel governance content, check out our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channels.

Don’t forget to stay in touch! Send us your thoughts on this and other episodes as well as ideas for future topics you’d like to hear discussed to [email protected].

Hosted by Jamie Thomas and Liam Whittington.

Written and produced by Liam Whittington.

What have federations in different parts of the world been doing to address climate change? What strategies are governments using to cultivate change? And what about the other players involved in the climate equation – how do they fit in?

In our second and final episode on federalism and climate change, we’re asking big questions and perusing the practical. We’re taking a look at the intricacies of climate governance in federations on four continents to explore the current state of play in 2023 and ask: what can federalism contribute to averting climate catastrophe?  

Joining us on this episode:

Alan Fenna, Professor of Politics, Curtin University, Western Australia.

Kathryn Harrison, Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia.

Carsten Sieling, Former Mayor of the City of Bremen. 

Warathida Chaiyapa, Lecturer and Assistant Director at the School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University.

The Forum’s comparative book on climate and federalism is out now! Check out Climate Governance and Federalism – A Forum of Federations Comparative Policy Analysis, available open access! 

Professor Harrison’s paper on climate governance in Canada is also available now! Download The Challenge of Federalism for Canadian Climate Policy for free from the Forum website!

If you're looking for more cutting-edge multilevel governance content, check out our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channels.

Don’t forget to stay in touch! Send us your thoughts on this and other episodes as well as ideas for future topics you’d like to hear discussed to [email protected].

Written and hosted by Jamie Thomas and Liam Whittington.

Produced by Liam Whittington and Zeeniya Waseem.

How can federations tackle the critical issue of climate change? What are the opportunities and challenges of making progress toward the goals of the Paris Agreement in federal countries?

In the first part of our series on federalism and climate change, we explore the sometimes complicated dynamics of climate governance in federal countries, including how a multilevel governance structure can support or block progressive policy, and what is more effective in terms of fostering change: a big carrot or an even bigger stick?

Joining us on this episode:

Alan Fenna, Professor of Politics, Curtin University, Western Australia.

Kathryn Harrison, Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia.

Carsten Sieling, Former Mayor of the City of Bremen. 

Warathida Chaiyapa, Lecturer and Assistant Director at the School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University.

Stay tuned to our website - forumfed.org - for our forthcoming Canada policy paper and comparative volume on climate change and federalism, coming May 2023! 

If you're looking for more cutting-edge multilevel governance content, check out our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channels.

Don’t forget to stay in touch! Send us your thoughts on this and other episodes as well as ideas for future topics you’d like to hear discussed to [email protected].

Written and hosted by Jamie Thomas and Liam Whittington

Produced by Liam Whittington and Zeeniya Waseem

What has the changing nature of COVID-19 taught us about governance dynamics in federations? And in what ways has federalism been effective and ineffective in various responses to the pandemic over time?  

In this episode we explore how federal responses to COVID-19 have changed over the course of the crisis in Latin American, European, African, and Asian federations.

Joining us on this episode:

Laura Flamand, Research Professor and Coordinator of the Network for the Study of Inequalities, El Colegio de Mexico.

Eva Maria Belser, Professor and Chair of Constitutional and Administrative Law, University of Fribourg.

Zemalek Ayele, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Federalism and Governance Studies, Addis Ababa University.

Rekha Saxena, Professor of Political Science, University of Delhi.

Nico Steytler, South African Research Chair in Multilevel Government, University of the Western Cape.

Felix Knüpling, Vice President of Programs, Forum of Federations.

Written and hosted by Jamie Thomas and Liam Whittington.

Produced by Liam Whittington with production support from Jamie Thomas.

Be sure to check out the Forum’s book Federalism and the Response to COVID-19 – A Comparative Analysis and IACFS’s book Comparative Federalism and COVID-19: Combating the Pandemic for free online.

For more on federalism and COVID-19 check out forumfed.org. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Don’t forget to stay in touch! Send us your thoughts on this and other episodes as well as ideas for future topics you’d like to hear discussed to [email protected].

Is federalism a solution to the challenges of building sustainable peace in fragile and conflict-affected states? Can a federal peacebuilding approach be codified into a federalism ‘pathway for peace’?  

We explore the application of federalism as a peacebuilding mechanism, including opportunities, limitations, and how we can achieve more sustainable results, drawing on the experiences of three fragile states: Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen.

Joining us on this episode:

Muna Luqman, Yemeni activist, peace builder, and founder of Food4Humanity.

Marie-Joëlle Zahar, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Research Network on Peace Operations at the Université de Montréal.

Abdi Aynte, co-founder and Managing Director of Laasfort Consulting Group.

Mai Amir, Sudanese governance consultant and technical specialist.

This episode is brought to you by the Forum of Federations in partnership with Food4Humanity.It appeared in the Geneva Peace Week 2021 digital series.

Written and hosted by Liam Whittington.

Produced by Asma Zribi, Emilie Tremblay and Liam Whittington.

To get in touch with the podcast, email [email protected].

For more on federalism and peacebuilding, check out forumfed.org or find us find us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

With gender equality now a priority in international development, how are donors and development practitioners supporting the empowerment women and girls around the world? What is the connection between gender equality, governance and development? How can we build a more equal world?

In the final episode of our series on gender equality and federal & decentralized governance, we explore Canada and Switzerland’s gender equality and governance development assistance approaches, and the work being done on the ground to improve the lives of women and girls. We’ll also consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global gender equality.

Joining us on this episode:

Ursula Keller, Senior Policy Advisor and Head of the Governance Unit, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Marc Banzet, Director, Natural Resources and Governance, Global Affairs Canada.

Ilana Trombka, Director General, Federal Senate of Brazil.

Sosena Mulatu, Gender Specialist, Forum of Federations.

Dr. Christine Forster, Associate Professor and Associate Dean International, University of New South Wales.

Written and hosted by Diana Chebenova and Liam Whittington.

Produced by Asma Zribi and Liam Whittington.

Download the full Gender Equality and Federalism report.

Get in touch with the show at: [email protected]

For more on federalism and multilevel governance, check out forumfed.org. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

What are the opportunities and challenges experienced by women to engage and participate in politics in federal countries?

In the second in our three-part series on gender equality and federal & decentralized governance, we examine the factors that affect women's representation and participation in public office in federal countries. We also explore the role of men in fostering gender quality, and consider the links between women's economic empowerment and gender equality.

Joining us on this episode:

Dr. Christine Forster, Associate Professor and Associate Dean International, University of New South Wales.

Sosena Mulatu, Gender Specialist, Forum of Federations.

Ursula Keller, Senior Policy Advisor and Head of the Governance Unit, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Marc Banzet, Director, Natural Resources and Governance, Global Affairs Canada.

Ilana Trombka, Director General, Federal Senate of Brazil.

Written and hosted by Diana Chebenova and Liam Whittington.

Produced by Asma Zribi and Liam Whittington.

Download the full Gender Equality and Federalism report.

For more on federalism and multilevel governance, check out forumfed.org.

You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

What impact does federal and decentralized governance have on gender equality?

In the first in a three part series, we explore the relationship between federal and decentralized systems and gender equality. How do these dynamics affect women and girls, and what opportunities and limitations are there for advancing gender equality in these systems?

Joining us on this episode:

Dr. Christine Forster, Associate Professor and Associate Dean International, University of New South Wales.

Sosena Mulatu, Gender Specialist, Forum of Federations.

Ursula Keller, Senior Policy Advisor and Head of the Governance Unit, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Marc Banzet, Director, Natural Resources and Governance, Global Affairs Canada.

Ilana Trombka, Director General, Federal Senate of Brazil.

Written and hosted by Diana Chebenova and Liam Whittington.

Produced by Asma Zribi and Liam Whittington.

Download the full Gender Equality and Federalism report.

For more on federalism and multilevel governance, check out forumfed.org.

You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Federalism is seen by some in the international community as an important tool to support peacebuilding and reconciliation processes in divided societies. But how and in what contexts can it be used most effectively?

We examine how federalism has been used, or proposed, as mechanism to support sustainable peace and development in three countries: Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Cyprus.

Joining us on this episode:

Almaze Mekonnen, Former State Minister of Peacebuilding and National Consensus, Government of Ethiopia.

Derya Beyatli, Peace Activist and Founding Member of the Third Community Forum.

Htet Min Lwin, Senior Advisor, Forum of Federations.

The discussion is moderated by Rupak Chattopadhyay, President and CEO, Forum of Federations.

This conversation appeared as part of the Geneva Peace Week 2020 Digital Series.

Written, hosted and produced by Liam Whittington.

For more on federalism and peacebuilding, check out forumfed.org.

You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.