'This authoritative and stimulating examination of an important but neglected problem is one of the most important books on German history to have been published in recent years.' - Professor T.C.W. Blanning, F.B.A., Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge
'A unique exploration of the cultural meanings of federalism which have informed political and administrative debates in Germany. Federalism emerges as a constantly changing, frequently renewed political tradition - and as a persistent cultural idiom, embodying fundamental collective attitudes and experiences of the nation. Anyone interested in understanding why Germany continues to be a place where political unity can never be taken for granted must read these insightful essays.' - Celia Applegate
'This rich, multidisciplinary collection examines the important tension between historical contingency and continuity in the practice of German federalism from the Holy Roman Empire to the present.' - Professor Simon Bulmer, Head of the Government Department, University of Manchester
'This remarkable book offers an alternative reading of German history. It denies the traditional arguments about the inevitability of the national state in German history but also questions fashionable ideas about the role of federalism. It question all the orthodoxies. A must for all those interested in the German past, present or future.' - Jonathan Steinberg, Walter H. Annenberg Professor of Modern European History, Philadelphia
