Federalism, Conflict Resolution. Democratisation and State Reconstruction: The cases of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Myanmar

There has been a growing use of federalism and other forms of territorial autonomy as strategies to end violent conflict. However, its success to contribute to conflict resolution, and subsequently democratization, has been increasingly questioned. Focusing on the examples of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Myanmar, this paper discusses the conditions under which federalism might work as a tool to end violence, and what challenges might prevent federal structures from contributing to efficient democratization and good governance. Comparing the imposed federal system in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the federal debate in Myanmar, which has – despite a more than 80-year long federal discussion, never been organized federally, allows for insights into the use of federalism as a tool of conflict resolution and a mechanism to support democratization in post-conflict societies.