The Forum of Federations gathers researchers and policy-makers from all over the world in order to develop research and support scientific dissemination of Federal Studies and Fiscal Federalism. One of its most recent work, edited by Griffiths, Chattopadhyay, Light and Stieren; it is an update of the 2005 edition of the Handbook of Federal Countries. The book includes a chapter for each federal country in order to provide a brief and comprehensive overview of several issues related to the topic.

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Comoros, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, St. Kitts and Nevis, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America are the twenty-five countries considered as federal countries by the Forum of Federations and thus, included in the book. In addition, there is a chapter dedicated to the European Union and another devoted to federal constitution-making processes and the stable cessation of conflicts.

The book, which is considered a signature resource in comparative federalism, covers from the history of federalism and the constitutional nature of federalism to its recent historical dynamics. As new countries have joined the Federal ranks, this handbook brings readers up to speed offering an authoritative look at both the older federal countries as well as new federal countries like Nepal. The Handbook can be a useful resource for academics, researchers, university students, libraries, history and governance teachers, politicians and civil servants, and casual observers of federalism.