The Persian Blueprint? The Achaemenid Empire’s Legacy in Modern Multilevel Governance

Decentralization, Federalism, Intergovernmental Relations, Local Governance, Multilevel Governance, Provinces

Author: Sparsho Chakraborty – The Achaemenid Persian Empire ruled over an unprecedentedly vast and diverse territory. Its governance system combined centralized authority with regional autonomy through the satrapy system, allowing effective administration across its vast lands. This model, while rooted in monarchy, developed prototypical principles of decentralized regional administration which share similarities with modern federations, such as Canada.

Transparency in Canadian Housing under the Housing Partnership Framework

Canada, Decentralization, Federalism, Fiscal Federalism, Intergovernmental Relations, Political Autonomy, Provinces, Subnational Autonomy

Authors: Jennifer Wallner & Robert Breen – Housing in Canada is increasingly unaffordable. Between 2000 and 2019, the percentage increase of housing prices was approximately three times higher than the percentage increase of median nominal income (Zhu et al., 2023). Furthermore, between 2020 and 2022, housing prices rose by 30% (August 2022). While improvements are anticipated, the affordability crisis is detrimental for Canadians (CMHC, 2025a).

اتجاهات الحوكمة في قضية بناء الدولة السورية الجديدة وجهة نظر الكاتب السوري عماد نداف

Conflict, Decentralization, Democracy, Federalism, Forum, Fragility, MENA, Peacebuilding, Syria

Author: Imad Naddaf – لقد أمضيتُ زمنا طويلا من حياتي درستُ فيه تاريخ سورية جيداً وخضتُ نقاشات واسعة حول ماضيها وحاضرها ومستقبلها الوطني، وعانيت من آرائي السياسية التي كنت أحملها وقضيت في سجني تدمر وصيدنايا قرابة عشر سنوات إبان الحكم الديكتاتوري السابق ..

Trends in Governance in Building the New Syrian State – A Perspective by Syrian Writer Imad Naddaf

Conflict, Decentralization, Democracy, Federalism, Forum, Fragility, MENA, Peacebuilding, Syria

Author: Imad Naddaf – I have spent a long period of my life studying Syria’s history in depth and engaging in extensive debates about its national past, present and future, and I have paid a heavy price for the political views I hold, spending nearly ten years in Tadmur and Saydnaya prisons under the former dictatorial rule. On that basis, I consider it a duty to set out my own view, while passing over the well-known historical facts related to the colonial targeting of the region and earlier partition plans, most notably the Sykes-Picot Agreement.​

Multilevel Governance and the Power of Vaccines – How Sri Lanka Achieved Immunization Success Amidst Civil War

Conflict, Fragility, Health Care, Infrastructure, Local Governance, Service Delivery, Sri Lanka

Author: Yasodhara Kapuge – When Sri Lanka was engulfed in one of the world’s longest civil wars (1983–2009), bombs and gunfire often drowned out everyday life. Yet, even as conflict tore communities apart, Sri Lanka quietly sustained one of the most successful childhood immunization programs in South Asia.

Federalism in the Digital Age: How Federal Structures in Germany and Canada Impact Digitalization Policy

Canada, digitalization, Education, Federalism, Germany, Health Care, Identity, Infrastructure, Provinces, Service Delivery, Subnational Autonomy, Technology

Author: Jella Ohnesorge – Digitalization policy is characterized by its dynamic development and cross-cutting qualities, as well as the fact that many countries are overwhelmed by it. During the COVID-19 pandemic it became very clear how important digital governance is and how beneficial effective digitalization policy can be for citizens and public administration alike.

Ontarians Need to See the Power of Their Own Government

Canada, Cities, Democracy, Education, Environment, Federalism, Fiscal Federalism, Health Care, Identity, Local Governance, Natural Resources, Ontario, Provinces, Service Delivery, Subnational Autonomy

Author: Jennifer Wallner – Another Ontario election has come and gone. And less than half the population noticed. In 2022, a sparse 4,701,959 people voted. With only 44.06% of eligible voters turning out, that election set the record for the lowest voter turnout ever in the province. This election, one where the province and Canada face real threats with devastating consequences from our closest ally, fared little better. Essentially, Ontarians issued a collective ‘meh’.