A Gordian knot of political sciences? To the compatibility of federalism and democracy

Over the last decades, federalism became increasingly relevant in national or international political systems. However, scholars still dispute the consequences of federal organisations on democracy. In research on federalism, both forms are said to be congruent, and mutually support each other. In contrast, research on democracy focuses on the negative effects of multilevel structures and interlocking politics. This article outlines an analytical perspective that should contribute to the clarification of this relevant issue in comparative research.