USA and Indian Federalisms: Similarities and Differences
| Date | 01 December 2017 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0019556117726846 |
| Published date | 01 December 2017 |
| Author | Beryl A. Radin |
| Subject Matter | Note |
Note
1 McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
Corresponding author:
Beryl A. Radin, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
E-mail: bar58@georgetown.edu
USA and Indian
Federalisms:
Similarities and
Differences
Beryl A. Radin1
Abstract
Federal systems across the globe are full of contradictions. They are both
individually unique and yet respond to similar objectives and expectations in a
constantly changing environment. This dynamic is illustrated by developments
in two large federal systems—India and the USA—that have tried to deal with
dramatic differences within their population as they search for ways to make
democratic principles come alive. While differences between the two systems
are clear, examining both sets of players and pressures can prove to be useful to
students of both settings.
Keywords
India, IAS, federalism, USA, overlapping powers
More than 25 years ago, I decided I wanted to apply for a Fulbright grant to India.
There were a number of reasons for this decision that encompassed a range of
realities. I am an American with very limited language facility. I had found that
my earlier time in Australia allowed me to avoid my language limitations but still
learn from a different culture. About the same time, I was a devotee of the British
television series Jewel in the Crown and was intrigued by India’s transition from
a colonial situation to independence. I enriched my knowledge by delving into the
rich fictional literature about India available in English and took a course at the
Smithsonian Institute on Indian Art and Architecture to learn about highlights of
Indian history and to identify sites that I wanted to visit.
Increasingly, I began to see parallels between India and the USA. My earlier
research had focused on American federalism and the constant search for ways
that a national government could deal with a system of states with very different
Indian Journal of Public
Administration
63(4) 685–689
© 2017 IIPA
SAGE Publications
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DOI: 10.1177/0019556117726846
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