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Ethnicity, Secessionist Conflict and the International Society: Towards Normative Paradigm Shift
Author(s) -
Heraclides Alexis
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
nations and nationalism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1469-8129
pISSN - 1354-5078
DOI - 10.1111/j.1354-5078.1997.00493.x
Subject(s) - normative , ethnic group , autonomy , devolution (biology) , secession , settlement (finance) , political science , sociology , political economy , ethnic conflict , law , law and economics , economics , politics , anthropology , finance , payment , human evolution
. This article addresses the challenge of ethnicity and particularly of secessionist conflict by trying to outline an international normative framework more conducive to conflict settlement. The working hypothesis is that accommodation through dialogue, in spite of its risks, offers the only way forward in situations of politicised ethnicity. The existing international nonnative regime (with its ban on secession and no opening for autonomy) is insufficient for managing and resolving such conflicts, while its revolutionary antipode, ‘national’ self‐determination, is a frightening prospect. Three alternatives are explored: partial recasting with emphasis on devolution; a secessionist option for some federations; and secessionist self‐ determination for tormented minorities within well‐defined criteria. The advantages as well as the drawbacks of unilateral (secessionist) self‐detennination are explored in detail.