Introduction
The Centre for Studies on Federalism aims to develop, in the context of its activities, research projects relating to the topics it deals with on European integration; domestic, supra-national and comparative federalism; regionalism; the process of globalisation and the prospects for the democratisation of the international system. Among the main initiatives promoted by the Centre, the annual Lecture on issues of current European interest, named after Altiero Spinelli, where well-known figures from international institutions and the academic world are invited to speak, deserves special mention. The Centre also promotes its own research with seminars and the publication of online papers and essays, and its Studies Serie. In particular, within its area of interest, the Centre has launched a number of editorial projects (Bibliographical Bulletin on Federalism, Perspectives on Federalism and International Democracy Watch) and documentation (EU CSDP Operations - European Union Common Security and Defence Policy Operations, Fiscal Federalism Watch, Altiero Spinelli Fund) dedicated to gathering information, documents, articles and essays on federalism - in particular, on federalism in relation to topics such as security, human rights, the economy and institutions.
- Perspectives on Federalism: an online review aiming to create a forum open to a debate on federalism at all levels of government: sub-national, national and supra-national, regionally and worldwide.
- Bibliographical Bulletin on Federalism: published on line three times a year and providing a survey of the articles on federalism published in roughly 700 reputable scientific reviews in Italian, English, French, German and Spanish.
- International Democracy Watch (IDW): aiming to check the progress and evolution of democracy in international institutions and measure its developments through regular monitoring, the results of which are published daily on the website.
- Operations within the framework of the EU Common Security and Defense policy (EU CSDP Missions): aiming to provide the facts and figures needed to conduct a comparative analysis of the military, civilian and police operations promoted by the EU within the framework of the ESDP since 2003. The project is also intended to create a continuously-updated dossier for each operation, together with a series of useful links.
- Fiscal Federalism Watch: aims at monitoring and keeping the reader up-to-date on the ongoing process of restructuring the Italian public finance system and the effect of the constitutional reform as regards fiscal federalism.