Federalism as laboratory? The German Länder in the implementation of climate policy (LABFED)

• Applicant: Dr. Antonios Souris
• Subject Area: Political Science
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 570450816

The research projects of REPOLIM address the implementation of political objectives in the context of ongoing transformation processes. This project focuses on a particular form of decentralized implementation: the possibility, inherent in federal systems, to experiment with innovative measures on a smaller scale and subsequently adapt them more broadly. The project thus builds on the concept of a “laboratory federalism,” which is based on a particularly optimistic argument in favor of federal governance. According to this concept, the constituent units (i.e., the German Länder) can experiment with new measures to identify suitable solutions for political problems. Other constituent units can then learn from these experiences and incorporate them into their own decisions. While the concept of laboratory federalism is widely discussed in international federalism research, it has rarely been applied to the German federal system. This project aims to fill this gap in the literature. The underlying premise of a laboratory federalism - i.e., that subnational flexibility not only results in diversity but also fosters innovation and learning - offers new insights into the functioning, potential, and limitations of federal governance in the implementation of political objectives associated with transformation. Although these objectives are typically set at higher levels, the Länder play a crucial role in realizing them. In line with the understanding of implementation laid out in the REPOLIM framework, the Länder effectively “fill up” and “complete” these objectives. In doing so, they can serve as laboratories for implementation. The proposed project centers on one of the key transformation objectives: climate neutrality. Confirmed by the Federal Constitutional Court in 2021, climate neutrality is a constitutional obligation for public policymaking in Germany. The project seeks to empirically assess laboratory federalism in the implementation of climate neutrality: Which new climate policy measures are being introduced by the Länder, and to what extent are these subsequently adopted by others? Is there evidence that these dynamics are shaped by interjurisdictional learning processes among decision-makers? To answer these questions, the project employs a mixed-methods research design that integrates qualitative and computational text analysis techniques with in-depth case studies. In addition, the project will contribute to a broader understanding of how decentralization affects the management of transformation and the achievement of political objectives.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants