The Dawn of a Community-Defining Federalism

Abstract

Co-operative federalism has ceased to explain much of the new thinking of, for example, the Advisory Com mission on Intergovernmental Relations. On the other hand, there is a deepening concern to invigorate state and local inter- program co-ordination, allocation of financial resources, and the public accountability of such executive and legislative leader ship. "Dual government" cannot serve. Instead, we can ex pect national initiatives to strengthen the states and the states to interest themselves in defining potential local and metro politan publics. Delimiting constituencies for representation should be considered part of such a strategy, thus drawing political leadership and parties into the community-forming process. Though communities in the old sense may be victims of the expanded scale of affiliations, communities of representa tion may be developed.