Final answer:
A confederation is an association of sovereign states organized for mutual purposes, with a central government having limited power. Notable historical instances include the United States under the Articles of Confederation and, more recently, the Commonwealth of Independent States. While offering state autonomy, confederations often struggle with national unity and governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
A confederation refers to an association of sovereign states or communities, usually created by a treaty and organized for a mutual purpose. In a confederation, authority is decentralized, and the central governing body has limited power, which it derives from the member states. The states retain supreme authority over all matters except those delegated to the central government. A historical example of a confederation is the United States under the Articles of Confederation. However, due to weaknesses in central authority, such as the inability to maintain a military, regulate commerce, or enforce laws, the U.S. shifted towards a federal system with the adoption of the Constitution. Contemporary examples, like the Commonwealth of Independent States, demonstrate that confederations still exist but often struggle with cohesion and effective governance.
Confederations emphasize the independence and self-governance of their member states, rather than creating a strong central authority. This governmental structure maximizes regional autonomy but often at the expense of national unity and effective nationwide policy-making. The experience of the United States with the Articles of Confederation highlighted that while states were protected from an overbearing central government, the lack of a strong central authority led to difficulties in addressing national issues, such as defense or economic policy.