Secessionist Conflicts: A Literature Review

Vital aspects of state formation include centralization of governance and the standardization of certain cultures (Hague and Harrop, 2010). However, creation and preservation of united society are especially challenging in culturally and ethnically diverse states. Conflicts arise from the clashing interests of the numerous cleavages of the society. Various groups therefore desire to break- up from the state in the pursuit of self-determination and self-rule.
Secessionist groups arise from a particular minority group (e.g. ethnic groups, religious groups) in the society. These groups desire to establish a territory wherein they can enforce their own interests and values. However, secessionist groups pose serious centrifugal problems to states

Secession is the process of “…establishment of sovereignty over a territory that once belonged to a larger political entity” (Kurian, 2011). Important point we need to emphasize here is that “secession entails national self-determination” (Gubernau, 2006, p. 69). It is therefore clear that secessionist group desire to establish a separate state where they can enforce rule and regulations they see fit.
There is an agreement in the literature reviewed that secessionist conflicts are deeply rooted on conceived ethnicity. Cornell (2004) pointed out that autonomy and self –determination is the frequent goal of ethnic mobilizations (p. 245).
In a cultural perspective, Guibernau (2006) argues that ethnic group demand self-rule in order to ‘to foster its distinct identity’ (p. 72-73). It may seem that such conflicts are common in multiethnic society where the existence of cleavages makes the formation of homogenous society very difficult. Furthermore, the establishment of a ‘national identity’ inevitably favor a certain faction of society that might cause uproar from other minority groups. We can therefore argue that “what matters is whether there is the perception of discrimination” (Cornell, 2004, p.

156). Many of them organize demonstrations and marches composed of many people to assert an image of popular acceptance and to “signal their capacity of disruption” (Gurr, 2000, p. 156). Such methods also allows the protesters to protect themselves behind the shield of morality, putting the government into disadvantage. Faced with a problem of national concern, the government device strategies to deal with secessionist conflicts, either to completely resist or to reconcile with the faction.
In summary, this section tried to establish a working definition of secession and secessionist conflicts using different scholarly works. Motivations and strategies of secessionist groups in asserting self-rule. Such discussion is important in explaining state attitudes and response to secessionist tension. There is a debate on how government should deal with secessionist conflicts. For this review essay, devolution agreements and their role to secessionist conflicts will be closely examined. This will be discussed in depth in the following