In this provocative and wide-ranging book, Ken Kollman examines the histories of the US government, the Catholic Church, General Motors, and the European Union as examples of federated systems that centralized power over time. He shows how their institutions became locked-in to intensive power in the executive. The problem with these and other federated systems is that they often cannot decentralize even if it makes sense. The analysis leads Kollman to suggest some surprising changes in institutional design for these four cases and for federated institutions everywhere.

‘Organization theorists across the social sciences, from political science to economics to history, will profit from and enjoy Ken Kollman’s ambitious attempt to conduct organizational analysis across nation-state, church, business, and political union and to bear naked the forces that lead to increased centralization. Expect this book to start a lively discussion across these disciplines!’

Jacques Crémer - Toulouse School of Economics

‘Ken Kollman’s theory of centralization goes against the grain of conventional wisdom, yet uses political science to set out an argument that will be debated in the years to come. The key claim is that separation of powers between the central executive and constituent units drives a process of progressive centralization. Kollman develops the argument with skill and sensitivity to carefully researched cases. Step by step, crisis after crisis, this has been the trajectory for the United States, the Catholic Church, and GM Motors. Only the European Union is unfinished business. This is a bold contribution, beautifully written, and likely to provoke a lively debate.’

Liesbet Hooghe - W. R. Kenan Distinguished Professor of Political Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and Chair in Multilevel Governance, VU University Amsterdam