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Autonomist federalism
The Bell Tower
«Decisions should be made as close as possible to the people they affect.»
Believes power should sit as close as possible to citizens: local areas responsible for their own resources and their own choices.
In short
On the traditional scale, this ideology sits in the center-right camp. The clearest positions are on devolution: strongly towards “federalism”; democracy: fairly towards “direct democracy”; economy: slightly towards “market”; society: slightly towards “tradition”. On religion, technology and foreign policy it stays balanced. Among the other ideologies, the closest is identitarian localism (89%).
Principles
- Subsidiarity
- Fiscal autonomy for local areas
- Local responsibility
Broad autonomy for regions and towns, with a light central state.
Common criticisms
Where it comes from
It has roots in Carlo Cattaneo and in Swiss and American federalism; in Italy it came back strongly from the 1990s.
Key figures: Thomas Jefferson, Alexis de Tocqueville, Luigi Einaudi
Further reading: The Federalist Papers — Hamilton, Madison and Jay; Democracy in America — Alexis de Tocqueville
Position on the 13 axes
Similar ideologies
Identitarian localismThe Highlander89%CommunitarianismThe Good Neighbor85%PaleolibertarianismThe Pioneer84%Closest parties in Europe
KeskustaFinland94%
Independent IrelandIreland90%
KristillisdemokraatitFinland86%
Noi ModeratiItaly86%Closest figures
Positions are estimates based on documented ideas, platforms and actions, updated to October 2026.