Federalism and the Separation of Powers
Philippine representative immerses in interactive program on federalism and separation of powers
The primary aim of the program is to provide participants with a deeper understanding of multilevel systems, focusing on federalism and the separation of powers. This comprehensive training combines theoretical insights with practical case studies, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience. By exploring these complex systems, participants gain a nuanced perspective on governance and its various dimensions.
The Winter School's vibrant global learning environment brings together renowned experts and academics from around the world to share insights on federalism and its complexities. Participants engage in dynamic dialogues with both professors and practitioners, gaining valuable perspectives from leading authorities in law and political science. This rich exchange is facilitated through a diverse range of lectures and workshops, mirroring the interdisciplinary and comparative approach that characterizes its programs. This setup allows participants to expand their knowledge of governance, benefiting from a dynamic and inclusive international setting that fosters collaboration and growth.
Post-program, the Philippine representative, who is a member of the Philippine judiciary, joins the Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance (PILG) core group, harnessing an enhanced understanding of federalism to foster awareness and comprehension of the public on its key aspects while advocating a government system that best suits the Philippine context.
Winter School on Federalism and Governance Eurac Research-Uni Innsbruck
How can federalism be used as a tool to divide and share powers? What is the role of constitutional courts and other checks and balances for the separation of powers? Can a strict separation of powers be counterproductive in federal systems? These were amongst the issues the participants took up in this program, which also explored the consequences of asymmetries for the separation of powers, the impact of the separation of powers on policy fields such as migration, environment, fiscal relations, and digitalization, and how power relations evolve during emergencies. Additionally, the program examined lessons from comparative practices to provide a comprehensive understanding of these complex issues.
The interactive sessions offered participants a platform to share their insights and experiences, engaging in meaningful deliberations with experts in multilevel governance. Through lively discussions with distinguished academics and renowned specialists, participants benefited from a rich exchange of ideas, fostering a collaborative learning environment that enhanced their understanding of complex governance issues.
Participants engage with the program to gain insights into the separation of powers through a rich array of case studies, including the European Union's federal power-sharing system and examples from Africa, Asia, and North America. They delve into critical topics such as asymmetric federalism and explore how power-sharing impacts key policy areas like environmental governance, migration policies, digitalization strategies, healthcare systems, and fiscal relations. This hands-on approach empowers participants to analyze complex governance issues and develop a deeper understanding of how power dynamics shape policy outcomes.
Participants explore the South Tyrolean Parliament in Bolzano, gaining insight into Italian regionalism and South Tyrol’s unique autonomy model
Winter School on Federalism and Governance Eurac Research-Uni Innsbruck
“The Winter School on Federalism and Governance 2025 provided a rich and insightful exploration of federal structures, offering both theoretical frameworks and practical applications. The comparative federalism approach helped analyse how different nations balance autonomy and national unity, providing valuable lessons for the discussions the Philippines’ governance reform,” Judge Lorelei Balansay-Tapia concluded in her analysis. “The program was highly successful in fostering engaged discussions, knowledge exchange, and policy-oriented learning, making it a valuable experience for professionals working on governance, constitutional law, and federalism advocacy.”
She expressed confidence that the knowledge gained will strengthen her role as a resource speaker in PILG project activities focused on the implications of federalism within the Philippine context. Furthermore, she intends to share these insights with the PILG team to enhance public conversation on the topic through FedTalk at the PILG, an online series, which is available on YouTube and shared through the PILG’s Facebook page.
The Winter School on Federalism and Governance is a two-week international postgraduate program focused on federalism, regionalism, and multilevel governance. Organized under the patronage of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, it is a joint initiative of Eurac Research’s Institute for Comparative Federalism and the University of Innsbruck’s Faculties of Law and Social and Political Sciences. Since its first edition in 2010, the program has been hosted by the Council of Europe Secretary General. Using an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, it explores how federal systems facilitate multilayered, cohesive, and inclusive decision-making.
The program typically spans two weeks—one in Innsbruck, Austria, and one in Bolzano, Italy—both known for being vibrant international study settings. Conducted in English, activities include lectures by leading academics, interactive workshops, discussions, Q&A sessions, case studies, and study visits to political institutions. Participants mainly consist of young researchers, academics, postdocs, postgraduate and graduate students, civil servants from various government levels, and staff from NGOs and international organizations, all eager to deepen their understanding of federalism through a comparative, interdisciplinary lens.
The participation of Judge Balansay-Tapia in this Winter School Federalism and Governance Program 2025 Edition was made possible through the Hanns Seidel Foundation’s (HSF) support in partnership with the Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance (PILG) as part of their project “Increasing Awareness of the General Public on Federalism and Decentralisation.” To date, this partnership, which began in 2016, has supported the participation of a total of fourteen delegates from the Philippines in the EURAC Research Winter School on Federalism and Governance Editions from 2017 to 2020 and 2023 to 2025 held in Austria and in Italy; and, in 2022, online.
Links
Learn more about the program: https://winterschool.eurac.edu/
Winter School’s Facebook posts: https://www.facebook.com/winterschoolfederalism
