Nationalism and the strength of secessionism in Western Europe: Static and dynamic autonomy
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0192512120964902 |
| Published date | 01 November 2022 |
| Date | 01 November 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/0192512120964902
International Political Science Review
2022, Vol. 43(5) 730 –744
© The Author(s) 2020
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DOI: 10.1177/0192512120964902
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Nationalism and the strength of
secessionism in Western Europe:
Static and dynamic autonomy
André Lecours
University of Ottawa, Canada
Abstract
Contrary to the dominant expectations of the late 20th century, secessionism surged in two West European
minority national communities, Catalonia and Scotland, over the last decade. Yet, in two others enjoying
similar degrees of autonomy, Flanders and South Tyrol, secessionism did not gain strength. This outcome
suggests that focusing on the degree of autonomy afforded to minority national communities is misplaced.
This article shows that the nature of autonomy is more important than its degree for understanding the
strength of secessionism. It demonstrates that the key to autonomy regimes weakening secessionism is their
capacity to adjust and expand over time. Dynamic autonomy staves off secessionism while static autonomy
stimulates it. The article is based on a controlled comparison of, on the one hand, Catalonia and Scotland,
where autonomy regimes have been mostly static during key periods of time, and, on the other hand,
Flanders and South Tyrol, where they have been dynamic.
Keywords
Nationalism, secessionism, autonomy
Nationalist movements were a significant force in the politics of several Western European democ-
racies during the 20th century. Although there were always secessionist forces within these nation-
alist movements, they primarily pursued an autonomist rather than a secessionist agenda. By the
turn of the century, secessionism appeared to be on an irremediable decline. Not only had states
enacted measures to accommodate nationalist demands, but the European Union (EU) seemed to
give significant incentives for nationalist movements to seek autonomy rather than independence
by undermining the state, creating networks for cooperation between regional governments, and
facilitating transborder cooperation. More generally, nationalist movements in Western Europe
seemed to be operating in a ‘changing international order’ (McGarry and Keating, 2001) that was
producing an era where softer and more ambiguous claims for self-determination than outright
independence would dominate.
Corresponding author:
André Lecours, School of Political Studies, University of Ottawa, 120 University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N6N5, Canada.
Email: alecours@uottawa.ca
964902IPS0010.1177/0192512120964902International Political Science ReviewLecours
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