Tracing the evolution of federalist theory and the European Union (EU), an international line up of distinguished experts debate the pros and cons of treating the EU in a comparative context and ask whether a constitutional equilibrium has been reached in the EU. They examine policymaking or modes of governance in the areas of employment, health, environment, security and migration, comparing the EU´s policies with policies of both international organisations like NATO, OECD and federal states such as Canada, Japan and South Africa.