A substantial body of scholarship has sought to explain the origins of federalism and why some states opt for decentralization while others remain more centralized. However, despite the broad literature on why jurisdictions are assigned to one level of government or another, one important question remains largely unanswered and has received far less attention: to what extent and how are decentralization agreements implemented?

This event explores whether German federalism still offers useful lessons for Scotland and the UK. It will consider how Germany's system of territorial governance has evolved, what challenges it now faces, and how this experience might inform ongoing debates about devolution, democracy, and reform in Scotland and the wider UK.

These letters by David Melding and Glyndwr Cennydd Jones span a period encompassing the recent UK General Election and the beginnings of the second US Trump presidency. Exploring issues of constitutional history and development they make the case for much needed reform of the UK’s governing framework, through sharing views and experiences on models of devolution, federalism and confederalism.

Labour’s unexpected but fragile win, the SNP’s continuing struggles, and Reform UK’s surge in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election signal a fragmented new era in Scottish politics. Has constitutional polarisation ended – and what comes next?

As Reform UK moves beyond its English heartlands and gains ground in Scotland, Davide Vampa draws lessons from Italy’s populist radical right to understand what this shift might mean. He shows how successful populist parties can exploit political fluidity, rebrand across regions, and expand their reach – but also highlights the challenges of uniting diverse territorial interests under a single, coherent message.

For the first time, a populist radical right force has swept away all the other political actors in England, shattering the traditional Conservative-Labour duopoly that has long characterised the UK political system. The implications of this shift, underpinned by unprecedented levels of voter’s choice fragmentation, cannot be underestimated. Read Arianna Giovannini on the causes behind the surge in support for Reform, and what could be done to address them.