Confederation

A confederation is a union of sovereign states that delegate limited powers to a central authority for purposes such as defense, diplomacy, or trade, while retaining ultimate sovereignty in the member states. The central body is typically created by treaty and acts only with the consent of its members; its mandate and resources are usually constrained, and it can be dissolved by agreement of the member states.

Confederations differ from federations. In a federation, the central government has authority that derives from a constitution and can bind subnational units directly. In a confederation, the central authority acts as an agent of the member states and is often weak, with major decisions requiring the unanimity or consent of the member states; the member states may retain significant autonomy and even unilateral withdrawal.

Historical examples include the Iroquois Confederacy, the medieval and early modern Swiss Confederation, and the United States under the Articles of Confederation (1781–1789). The Confederate States of America, formed during the American Civil War, is another example, though it lasted only while the secessionist states were in existence. In the long term, the Swiss system evolved into a federal state in 1848, reflecting a shift from confederation to federation.

Modern references to confederal arrangements appear mainly in discussions of intergovernmental bodies where member states retain primary authority, and where decisions require consensus rather than centralized coercive power. The term is sometimes applied to describe aspects of the European Union, though the EU combines intergovernmental and supranational elements and is not a pure confederation.

Advantages of confederations include protection of sovereignty and flexibility for diverse political communities. Disadvantages include weak central capacity to provide security or common policy, potential deadlock, and dependency on member states for funding and action.