Federalism, the subnational constitutional framework and local government: accommodating minorities within minorities

Abstract

The translation of the self-rule and shared rule elements of federalism into tangible institutional arrangements goes a long way in terms of accommodating ethnic diversity within the context of geographically concentrated ethnic groups. This is particularly true in multi-national federations where some or all of the subnational units are roughly congruent with ethnic boundaries, thereby, enabling ethnic communities to manage their own affairs.