Die im Titel des Bandes angesprochene Asymmetrie "refers to differentiation of status and rights sanctioned between component units. The question of different status and rights among federal units has engendered great interest in diverse federal nations: Canada, Belgium, Malaysia, Spain, South Africa, Germany and India. To a considerable degree, stability and governance in these nations involves maintaining balance by recognition of diversity while deflecting the 'secession potential' of certain forces." (9) Hintergrund des Bandes sind Treffen und Panels, die sich im Rahmen des IPSA Research Committee on Federalism and Federation über mehrere Jahre hinweg erstreckten. Contents: Robert Agranoff: Power Shifts, Diversity and Asymmetry (11-23); Ronald L. Watts: The Theoretical and Practical Implications of Asymmetrical Federalism (24-42); Michael Burgess / Franz Gress: Symmetry and Asymmetry Revisited (43-56); Brian Galligan / Richard Mulgan: Asymmetric Political Association: The Australasian Experiment (57-72); Alain-G. Gagnon / Charles Gibbs: The Normative Basis of Asymmetrical Federalism (73-93); Robert Agranoff: Intergovernmental Relations and the Management of Asymmetry in Federal Spain (94-117); Ronald L. Watts: The Canadian Experience with Asymmetrical Federalism (118-136); Roland Sturm: The Constitution under Pressure: Emerging Asymmetrical Federalism in Germany? (137-148); Luis Moreno: Asymmetry in Spain: Federalism in the Making? (149-168); Michael Burgess / Franz Gress: Asymmetrical Federalism in Canada, the United States and Germany: Comparative Perspectives (169-188).