Australian Federalism: A Prospective Assessment

摘要: On 1 January 2001, Australia celebrated the centenary of its federal Constitution. Throughout history, Australian system has proved both resilient and flexible, serving Commonwealth through trials depression, total war, imperial decline, economic reconstruction. The constitutional been developed interpretation by High Court popular input via referendums, as well ongoing process intergovernmental relations. There an overall expansion powers with politics nation-building, but states remain significantly powerful although financially dependent on Commonwealth. Given institutional success federalism, challenges facing in new century are not expected to be domestic or constitutional, strategic economic: principally, how a smallish middle power should meet difficulties globalization security from position relative isolation adjacent Asia southern Pacific. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.