Still a Model? What We Can (and Can’t) Learn from German Federalism
For decades, Germany’s federal system has been viewed internationally as a model of stability, subsidiarity, and institutional balance. But recent years have seen a more critical discourse emerge, reflecting concerns about the governance, coordination, and resilience of the ‘German model’. Why the Germans Do It Better has given way to Broken Republik.
This event on Tuesday, 11 November 2025 from 6pm to 7.30pm in the Usha Kasera Lecture Theatre, Old College, Edinburgh, jointly organised by the British-German Association and the Centre on Constitutional Change, explores whether German federalism still offers useful lessons for Scotland and the UK. With opening reflections from Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and a conversation with him to follow, the discussion will consider how Germany’s system of territorial governance has evolved, what challenges it now faces, and how this experience might inform ongoing debates about devolution, democracy, and reform in Scotland and the wider UK.
The panel is chaired by Dr Davide Vampa, Co-Director of the Centre on Constitutional Change. Discussants are Dr Elke Heins and Dr Benjamin Martill (Centre on Constitutional Change and Europa Institute).
Please follow the Eventbrite link to book your free place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/still-a-model-what-we-can-and-cant-learn-from-german-federalism-tickets-1795665727529
Details
Edinburgh, EH8 9YL
