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Hilpold, Peter --- "Introduction" [2018] ELECD 231; in Hilpold, Peter (ed), "Autonomy and Self-determination" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018) 1

Book Title: Autonomy and Self-determination

Editor(s): Hilpold, Peter

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN: 9781788111706

Section: Chapter 1

Section Title: Introduction

Author(s): Hilpold, Peter

Number of pages: 6

Abstract/Description:

Never before has the call for self-determination or for more autonomy originating from many places in Europe reached such a strength as is the case these days. States representing the archetype of a national state, such as Great Britain or Spain which, only a few years ago, seemed strong and settled, risk going adrift. Even in countries like Italy, where national unity is not directly questioned, regions are showing ever-growing self-consciousness. At the same time, two further trends can be noted: On the one hand, minority protection is continuously gaining more importance and, on the other hand, there is a growing awareness of the fact that territorial autonomy may be an ideal instrument for the implementation of such a protection. Therefore, in many countries governments appositely introduce autonomy rules in order to make minority protection more effective. In this, however, a difficult balancing act between the introduction of meaningful protection provisions and the avoidance of furtherance of secession has to be accomplished. All this has to happen in a legal framework that is no longer characterized only by the traditional dichotomy between states and international law. It is rather the case that further international actors, like the European Union (EU), have entered the scene. Furthermore, the individual, alone or in groups, is also more and more present on the international scene behaving under many aspects like an international subject. Thereby, the situation gains in dynamics but also in complexity.