The long road to independence. (c2013)

Abstract

This thesis examines the current situation of separatist and secessionist movements in the EU area, taking into consideration both political parties and regional national movements. It seeks to analyse the possible similarities between the different movements by focussing on the characteristics they have in common and those that most differ from each other in order to understand whether or not it is possible to point to a more general trend followed by the different movements. The thesis first examines what scholars have written about the issue, and then it moves to a general overview of the EU political panorama by listing the major movements and political parties that seek a higher degree of self-autonomy or the radical solution: secession. It then presents three study cases from the list, two, Catalonia and Scotland, that are perfect examples of separatist movements, and the third, Trieste, which represents a very particular case far from the established standard. The thesis shows that, despite the fact that each case possesses specific characteristics that distinguish it from the others, it is possible to generalise to a certain level by categorizing a range of policies undertaken by different movements in specific key areas (education, economics, regional self-awareness, and promotion of national history). The research presented reveals that the present political movements have interests in different areas and wish for more independence to very different degrees: starting from cases in which greater autonomy is sought to cases in which a total separation from the central government is the desired goal. Nevertheless it is possible to find common areas shared by most of the separatist movements. The upcoming referendum for independence in Scotland and Catalonia, as well as the growing interest in this new wave of regionalism, leads to the conclusion that separatist movements will pose a serious challenge to the EU as well as to the central governments in the country in which they are located in as, regardless of the final outcome, it will generate legal precedents that could give rise to a domino effect of greater autonomy and/or secession.