Yeah I know, it`s pure logic that federalization means giving power to the federal government, but it`s just that in my country we use federalization when we talk about giving power to the different states. I thought everyone uses this unlogical choice of words. Guess it`s only my banana republic.

Turnbull - Thanks! [/b][/quote]Enzo, I don't think you're wrong about the use of "federalization" in the Belgian context you described. One generic definition of a "federal" system is that it's a political system of sharing powers among a central (federal) government and other entities, like states, counties and cities. As you described it earlier, Belgium changed its political structure to share power between the central government and various "states" (could this mean French, Dutch and Flemish-speaking regions?). Therefore, since "federalization" was new, perhaps it applied the way you described it. In the article Don Cardi cited, "federalizing" the National Guards really means calling the National Guards into the service of the Federal government (Washington) instead of duties to the individual states. "Nationalizing" the National Guard would be another (perhaps better) description.