Political theory working papers - Grup de Recerca en Teoria Políticahttp://hdl.handle.net/10230/172024-03-28T14:16:07Z2024-03-28T14:16:07ZObstacles and passages to secession in liberal-democratic contexts. Lessons from CataloniaBossacoma i Busquets, Pauhttp://hdl.handle.net/10230/344242022-11-28T11:51:03Z2018-04-20T00:00:00ZObstacles and passages to secession in liberal-democratic contexts. Lessons from Catalonia
Bossacoma i Busquets, Pau
This paper aims to show that secession, especially if unilateral, is difficult in contexts of
liberal democracy. The empirical difficulties may, however, ease the normative
recognition of a right to secede. After some general remarks, obstacles to consensual
secession will be distinguished from those of unilateral secession, emphasizing the
harshness of the latter. Three passages will be analyzed to overcome these obstacles,
namely domestication, perseverance and drama. Although a combination of all three
strategies is expected in the world of facts, domestication and perseverance should
trump drama in the normative realm of liberal democracy. The passage of drama ought
to be anomalous in contemporary democracies. The strategy of drama can backfire.
2018-04-20T00:00:00ZBavaria: another case of a right to decide?Nagel, Klaus-JürgenHolesch, Adam, 1977-http://hdl.handle.net/10230/282772018-04-25T09:28:37Z2017-03-22T00:00:00ZBavaria: another case of a right to decide?
Nagel, Klaus-Jürgen; Holesch, Adam, 1977-
This paper analyses the possible existence of a Bavarian right to decide, including the independence option. In conclusion, there is no such right under international law or the German constitution. Bavaria has not been conquered, nor has the German fiscal regime been set up without Bavarian representation. In spite of the long political history of the country, Bavarians are not seeing themselves as a “Nation”. The argument is also weakened by existing cultural and linguistic particularities inside the country. If at all, Bavaria’s independence could only be justified by a majority decision, either in a referendum or by parliamentary majority as in the Kosovo case, arguing at the same time that Bavaria would be a viable state in Europe, and that it would offer inner minorities like the Franconians to decide on their own account whether to remain. However, according to poll data and considering the current party system, there is not the slightest possibility for such a majority for independence.
2017-03-22T00:00:00ZThe Republic and its boundaries. Democratic republicanism and theories of right of secessionPérez, Lluís (Pérez Lozano)http://hdl.handle.net/10230/228572018-01-24T08:04:57Z2014-12-01T00:00:00ZThe Republic and its boundaries. Democratic republicanism and theories of right of secession
Pérez, Lluís (Pérez Lozano)
Despite the fact of dealing with the same object (the state, and specially the democratic state) from two different focus of interest, little effort has been devoted to analyze the normative relationship between democratic republicanism and current theories of right of secession (TRS): whether (and where) they are mutually reinforcing, contradictory, independent or in tension. This gap is part of another major gap: the lack of a democratic republican theory of secession. This article tries to fill the first gap as a first step to further fill the second one. In doing this, it shows (1) how current TRS can point out democratic republicanism as having missed to handle the dangers that secession conflicts imply in terms of exclusion, domination (either by blackmailing minorities or permanent majorities), and instability; and (2) how democratic republicanism can point out all current TRS as falling in some of these dangers. Hence, to explore how to reconcile democratic republicanism with the field of TRS appears as a relevant task to be developed; in this sense, the article also shows that we have reasons to think that we can work on an alternative democratic republican TRS as a feasible way to reach such reconciliation.
2014-12-01T00:00:00ZIsaiah Berlin’s value pluralism. Refining theory to improve democratic practiceRequejo, Ferran, 1951-http://hdl.handle.net/10230/227742018-01-24T08:03:43Z2014-10-30T00:00:00ZIsaiah Berlin’s value pluralism. Refining theory to improve democratic practice
Requejo, Ferran, 1951-
Isaiah Berlin’s humanistic liberalism is still an influential theory and an implacable antidote against extremism and fanaticism in all their guises. The author of this article notes that one of the main contributions of this theoretician born 100 years ago consists in gaining awareness that there is a multiplicity of values in plural societies which cannot be reduced to a single principle, or a universal permanent combination of values applicable to all individuals and all practical cases. However, Berlin’s defence of value pluralism is in no way a gratuitous concession to relativism or scepticism. Without a doubt, there is a role reserved for reason in moral conflicts. However, “reasonable” discrimination between values is much more context-dependent, even on an individual scale, than what moral, political or religious “rationalist” conceptions assume.
2014-10-30T00:00:00Z