The Neo-Federalist Manifesto

Neo-Federalism, at least how it is envisioned in this project, is not a political dogma or harbinger of universally applicable remedies. Rather, Neo-Federalists embrace the complexities of a political system as culturally and economically diverse as the United States. What may be good for one community may inevitably be harmful to another. As such, national governance from Washington D.C. has become increasingly unrealistic and illegitimate.

We seek to find a practical division of labor between local and federal institutions. The goal is to find ways in which many of the social and economic programs currently being offered by the federal government can be converted into locally controlled policies. In this way, state governments and their citizens can decrease their dependency on federal subsidies and increase the legitimacy of domestic governance—freeing central institutions to focus on interstate relations and foreign affairs. To that end, Neo-Federalist ideas are based on the following concepts:


• Proximity breeds consent- consensus and cohesion are easier to achieve among a limited number of people who share similar needs and perspectives. By empowering communities to enact, finance, and control policies that affect them directly, it reinforces the perception that the government is acting in the best interests of its citizens.


• Nationalism can legitimize cooperation, but not direct governance- common language, culture, and historical experiences can be a great source of intergovernmental cooperation. However, the complexities of regional and economic diversity make mass consensus unrealistic. So-called “culture wars” and extremist movements are often the products of centralized policy-making that ignores local realities.

• Decentralization is not disintegration- far from bringing about the end of the American Union, Neo-Federalist strategies strive to legitimate the authority of state and federal institutions by confining their roles to what they do best. The Union is strengthened when its actions are perceived to originate from the proper mechanisms.

• Technology facilitates diversity- The need for harmonized production policies is diminishing due to computer-aided manufacturing systems [1]. This is enabling goods to be produced in multiple versions—at increasingly lower costs—which respond to community needs. As a result, local cultures and economic policies can coexist within larger political associations without being consumed by federal or corporate interests.


It will be up to the individuals who participate in this project to decide what Neo-Federalism means to their communities. There are no rules, only possibilities. Do more than just read the articles and vote in the polls, express your opinion and suggest ideas for Neo-Federalist projects. A PRACTICAL PlAN IS THE FIRST STEP TO ACTION.