Final answer:
Devolution refers to the granting of autonomy to regions within a sovereign state, such as Scotland and Wales in the UK, and can also pertain to shifts in power in a federal structure, like the New Federalism policies in the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
Devolution describes a process through which regions or people within a sovereign state demand and obtain a degree of autonomy and independence from the central government. Various ethnic populations and regions in Europe have expressed desires to form their own nation-states, which often means a devolution of power from the larger state to the local region. For example, Scotland and Wales within the United Kingdom each have their own local parliaments and are governing with an increasing amount of self-management. Similarly, the Basque region straddling Spain and France and various regions in the former Yugoslavia are notable examples of such developments. Devolutionary forces, whether in response to linguistic, cultural, economic, or political differences, reflect the often complex relationships between regional identities and national governments.
In the United States, a form of devolution can be observed in the shifting of power and responsibility from the federal government to state governments. This was particularly pronounced during the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, who both advocated for New Federalism, which intended to return power to state and local governments. This reflects a broader principle where local governments are seen as "laboratories of democracy" and are given increased authority and responsibility in certain policy areas.