Abstract
This paper explores the challenge that cities pose to federalism. Cities are increasingly emerging as sites not only of institutional pluralism, but also of social pluralism where democratic innovations take place. In this sense, cities are gaining importance as players beyond states from both a government and governance perspective. Through a comparative analysis of the constitutional recognition of cities in 27 federal and quasi-federal systems around the world, the paper investigates their constitutional status. Also by bringing the example of the Italian cities’ case, the paper argues that cities within federal systems could receive greater recognition for their governance role in addressing pluralism – particularly societal pluralism – by engaging with their citizens and drawing on the contribution offered by the principle of subsidiarity in its horizontal/societal dimension. All in all, the recognition of what subsidiarity can offer to federalism would strengthen its capacity to better address societal pluralism through the role of cities.