WCED/CES Panel. Pulling Apart or Hanging Together: Separatism and Nationalism in Catalonia, Scotland, and Northern Italy

Western Europe, the birthplace of the modern nation-state, is now home to several polities facing threats to their political and territorial integrity. The demands of subnational challengers run the gamut from greater political and/or fiscal autonomy within established states to formal separation and political sovereignty. These challengers have employed a variety of strategies in pursuit of those demands, including drafting legislation, organizing mass protests, and holding referenda. This panel brings together experts on intra-state conflict in Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The panelists will explore the sources of grievances by regional actors in the Northern League, Catalonia, and Scotland; examine the nature of their goals and strategies; and discuss the response of central state actors to these challenges to the status quo.

Dario Gaggio, History
Kali Israel, History
Frank Casa, Romance Languages and Literatures
Moderator: Geneviève Zubrzycki, Sociology; Director, Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia and Center for European Studies