The Institute continues the study of federalism in addressing contemporary policy challenges in global governance that Citizens for Global Solutions' predecessor organizations has pioneered for decades.

Though the terminology has evolved in recent decades, federalism is still evident in contemporary intergovernmental relations. The use of federal and quasi-federal structures in the regional unions or in intergovernmental organizations extend and provide structure to democratic accountability and legal responsibility for national governments.  In more contemporary parlance, federalism is often described as interdependence and subsidiarity and is used to improve economic integration, global justice and collective security efforts that affect not only governments but individual citizens. The International Criminal Court and the European Parliament are two examples of contemporary global federalist structures. An accused individual may be indicted and prosecuted at the International Criminal Court, but only where national judicial systems are unable or unwilling to do so. European citizens can hold accountable policymakers and bureaucrats through regular and direct elections to the supranational European Parliament. 

The continued applicability of federalism in global governance is the focus of discussions and publications by many of the the Institute's Fellows. Emerging global concerns are identified by CGS policy and program staff, Board members and WFI Fellows, who collaborate in examining these concerns and proposing innovative policy and institutional solutions. Proposals by the Institute may include recommendations for new international norms, the development of regional or multilateral structures, or the establishment of entirely new global institutions.