Contradictory Trends in Contemporary Federal and Regional Systems? A Theoretical Speculation on Subsidiarity, Asymmetry and Globalization

Subsidiarity is the key-word of contemporary federal and regional systems, that imposes a functional flexibility in the allocation of powers, to fulfil citizens' interests and needs. In the light of this principle, we can read two main trends in autonomistical schemes. On the one hand, there is a (strong) tendence towards an asymmetrical differentiation within the system. On the other, the pressures of globalization impose to public entities to adapt their organization to the new dimension of socio-economic interests. But there could be a contradiction between these two trends, that has to be underlined.