Structuring the State: The Formation of Italy and Germany and the Puzzle of Federalism.

Germany's and Italy's belated national unifications continue to loom large in contemporary debates. Often regarded as Europe's paradigmatic instances of failed modernization, the two countries form the basis of many of our most prized theories of social science. __Structuring the State__ undertakes one of the first systematic comparisons of the two cases, putting the origins of these nation-states and the nature of European political development in new light. Daniel Ziblatt begins his analysis with a striking puzzle: Upon national unification, why was Germany formed as a federal nation-state and Italy as a unitary nation-state? He traces the diplomatic maneuverings and high political drama of national unification in nineteenth-century Germany and Italy to refute the widely accepted notion that the two states' structure stemmed exclusively from Machiavellian farsightedness on the part of militarily powerful political leaders. Instead, he demonstrates that Germany's and Italy's "founding fathers" were constrained by two very different pre-unification patterns of institutional development. In Germany, a legacy of well-developed sub-national institutions provided the key building blocks of federalism. In Italy, these institutions' absence doomed federalism. This crucial difference in the organization of local power still shapes debates about federalism in Italy and Germany today. By exposing the source of this enduring contrast, __Structuring the State__ offers a broader theory of federalism's origins that will interest scholars and students of comparative politics, state-building, international relations, and European political history. Germany's And Italy's Belated National Unification Continue To Loom Large In Contemporary Debates. Often Regarded As Europe's Paradigmatic Instances Of Failed Modernization, The Two Countries' Experiences Form The Basis Of Many Of Our Most Prized Theories Of Social Science. Structuring The State Undertakes One Of The First Systematic Comparisons Of The Two Cases, Putting The Origins Of The Two Nation-states And The Nature Of European Political Development In A New Light. Structuring The State Offers A Broader Theory Of Federalism's Origins That Will Interest Scholars And Students Of Comparative Politics, State-building, International Relations, And European Political History.--jacket. Introduction: How Nation-states Are Made -- The National Critical Juncture: An Overview Of The Dynamics Of Regionalism And National Unification -- The National Moment In Germany: The Dynamics Of Regionalism And National Unification, 1834-1871 -- The National Moment In Italy: The Dynamics Of Regionalism And National Unification, 1815-1860 -- From Strong Regional Loyalties To A Unitary System: National Unification By Conquest And The Case Of Italy -- From Strong Regional Loyalties To A Federal System: National Unification By Negotiation And The Case Of Germany -- Conclusion: The Politics Of Federalism And Institution Building In The Nineteenth Century And Beyond -- Appendix A: Prenational German And Italian States, 1850s-1860s -- Appendix B: Origins Of Federalism Data On Seventeen Largest West European Nation-states. Daniel Ziblatt. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [201]-216) And Index. Winner Of The Gabriel Almond Award For Best Dissertation In Comparative Politics, 2004. Winner Of The Ernst B. Haas Prize For Best Dissertation In European Politics, 2003. This study explores the following puzzle: Upon national unification, why was Germany formed as a federal state and Italy a unitary state? Ziblatt's answer to this question will be of interest to scholars of international relations, comparative politics, political development, and political and economic history..