As I noted a few days ago (here) in a piece on the reception of Polybius by Hume, I noted that in Federalist Papers 18 ‘Publius’ also discusses the Achaean League.
Tangential, but I've been thinking about the surprising degree to which Chinese provincial governments can act independently of, and to some extent in opposition to the centre, which was also true of the Roman Empire, at least in periods of weakness. Is there a theory of this kind of inverted federalism?
I have to think about that. I think we would have to look at some theories of empire in which the relative independence of various subordinate units is discussed. (During the cold war, there were some celebrated examples of this.)
Tangential, but I've been thinking about the surprising degree to which Chinese provincial governments can act independently of, and to some extent in opposition to the centre, which was also true of the Roman Empire, at least in periods of weakness. Is there a theory of this kind of inverted federalism?
I have to think about that. I think we would have to look at some theories of empire in which the relative independence of various subordinate units is discussed. (During the cold war, there were some celebrated examples of this.)