The Dynamic of Secession (Cambridge Studies in International Relations, Series Number 64)

Secessionist activity has been increasing in the developing world, in Western liberal democracies, and especially in the former Communist states of Eastern Europe. This timely book offers a general explanation for the occurrence of the phenomenon, arising from a comparative study of numerous historical examples of secession and separatist conflict. The book develops a comprehensive framework, specifying the elements necessary for a secession crisis, and discussing the moral issues underpinning such a decision. The author examines the political, economic and social costs and benefits of a community's two alternatives - continued integration in the existing state and secession - which enter into decision-making processes, and argues that secessionist activity arises only when government action or international developments change a community's view of the balance among these costs and benefits. Her conclusion is that a community's aspirations for independence change constantly with circumstances, and that in some instances, sensitive government policy can substantially mitigate secessionist sentiment, while, in others, evolution in the prevailing international climate can outweigh domestic factors in the dynamic of secession.--Publisher description Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 4 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 10 I Introduction......Page 11 1 Introduction......Page 13 Disintegration and the "secession crisis"......Page 18 The four necessary elements of a secession crisis......Page 20 A note on the moral justification underpinning secession......Page 25 The framework......Page 28 A note on the cost/benefit approach......Page 34 A note on the units of analysis......Page 36 II The costs and benefits......Page 41 Security benefits......Page 43 Czech desires for a Bohemian Kingdom within the Austro-Hungarian Empire......Page 44 The hasty creation of Yugoslavia......Page 46 Economic benefits......Page 48 Quebec: economic ties that bind......Page 49 The abandoned Soviet Central Asian republics......Page 51 Social benefits......Page 53 The Romansch......Page 55 The Karen......Page 56 The Slovaks and the creation of Czechoslovakia......Page 58 4 The costs of secession......Page 61 State opposition......Page 64 The Nagas: the precedent for Indian policy......Page 66 The Kurds: repression on three fronts......Page 72 Self-determination......Page 78 Territorial integrity......Page 81 Explicit condemnation of secession......Page 83 5 The costs of membership......Page 89 Deportation and famine: Soviet mistreatment of its minorities, 1930–1945......Page 90 Turkish mistreatment of its Armenian community, 1915–1917......Page 94 Cultural threats to the distinct community......Page 96 ''The Last Huron syndrome''......Page 98 Forcible cultural assimilation: the Kurds as "mountain Turks"......Page 100 Elite interests......Page 106 Separatist agitation in Nigeria......Page 108 The principle of national self-determination......Page 113 The origins of the principle......Page 114 The nature of the benefits......Page 118 The controversy surrounding the principle......Page 119 III The dynamic of secession......Page 125 7 "Last resorts": a rise in the costs of membership......Page 127 The republic of Biafra......Page 129 The Bengali secession......Page 134 Cultural threats to the distinct community......Page 141 The Southern Sudanese: religious persecution......Page 143 8 "Opportune moments": a reduction in the costs of secession......Page 155 Collapse of the central government......Page 156 Russia, 1917–1922: a deluge of secession crises......Page 157 External support......Page 162 India: midwife to the birth of Bangladesh......Page 164 Turkey's creation: the Turkish republic of northern Cyprus......Page 169 9 A reduction in the benefits of membership......Page 177 The Norwegian secession......Page 179 "Mature anarchy" and economic integration: developments in the international system......Page 185 Catalan separatism......Page 187 Quebecois separatism......Page 190 Security requirements......Page 199 Economic integration......Page 203 10 A rise in the benefits of secession......Page 212 Elite interests revisited......Page 214 The principle of national self-determination revisited......Page 215 "Quasi-statehood"......Page 216 Political infrastructure......Page 217 Economic infrastructure......Page 220 11 Conclusion......Page 226 Main conclusions......Page 227 Implications for the concept of sovereignty......Page 228 The prevention and resolution of secession crises......Page 233 Future trends in secession......Page 236 THEORY......Page 243 LAW......Page 249 Bengalis – Pakistan......Page 250 Biafra – Nigeria......Page 251 Czechoslovakia......Page 253 India......Page 254 Karen – Burma......Page 255 Norway – Sweden......Page 257 Quebec – Canada......Page 258 Soviet Union......Page 259 Soviet Central Asia......Page 261 Ukraine......Page 262 Sudan......Page 263 Tamils – Sri Lanka......Page 264 United Kingdom – Scotland/Wales......Page 265 Yugoslavia – Slovenia/Croatia......Page 266 American South, Saharawis, Tibet......Page 268 Index......Page 269 This book, first published in 1999, offers a general explanation for the occurrence of the phenomenon of secessionist activity, arising from a comparative study of numerous historical examples of secession and separatist conflict. The book develops a comprehensive framework, specifying the elements necessary for a secession crisis, and discussing the moral issues underpinning such a decision. The author examines the political, economic and social costs and benefits of a community's two alternatives - continued integration in the existing state and secession - which enter into decision-making processes, and argues that secessionist activity arises only when government action or international developments change a community's view of the balance among these costs and benefits. Her conclusion is that a community's aspirations for independence change with circumstances, and that in some instances, sensitive government policy can substantially mitigate secessionist sentiment, while, in others, evolution in the prevailing international climate can outweigh domestic factors in the dynamic of secession.