Minority Nationalist Parties and European Integration

To see ourselves as others see us: identity and attitudes towards immigration amongst civic nationalists

“…On the one hand, it has led to more culturally permeable national identities. On the other hand, nationalism, nations and national identities remain potent forces in contemporary politics (De Winter and Türsan 1998;Marks 1999;De Winter, Gómez-Reino, and Lynch 2006;Keating 2008;Elias 2009). These issues are closely linked to long-standing theoretical debates on the nature of nationalism and national identity.…”

“…Squaring the two has been one of the major concerns of politics in the past 50 years (Young 1993). Despite the effects of globalisation and the associated increase in immigration to Western Europe (Geddes 2003), the nation-state, national identities and nationalism have not withered (De Winter and Türsan 1998;Marks 1999;De Winter, Gómez-Reino, and Lynch 2006;Keating 2008;Elias 2009)-or at least less than predicted by some (Ohmae 1995). Therefore, newcomers have had to be incorporated into societies.…”

A different appetite for sovereignty? Independence movements in subnational island jurisdictions

“…This is reflected in the composition and autonomy claims of the European Free Alliance, the premier alliance of SNRPs in the EU. Most members seek to renegotiate their autonomy within a 'Europe of the Peoples and Nations', rather than demand separate membership of a 'Europe of States' (Hooghe, 1996;Loughlin, 1996;Jeffery, 2002;Keating, 2005;Elias, 2008;Hepburn, 2010). This accommodation strategy is also seen in the realpolitik of fringe independentist parties -as currently exist in the Balearic Islands (Catalonia/Spain), Corsica (France) and Sardinia (Italy).…”

“…Rather than pursue outright independence, many SNRPs prefer forms of enhanced autonomy within the state (Türsan, 1998;Elias, 2008). However, constitutional restructuring is not the only goal of these movements.…”

“…The presence and activities of independence-leaning movements can contribute significantly to a more successful negotiation with, and securing of even more generous measures of autonomy and capacity from, metropolitan powers. This is especially true when SNRPs can exploit the existence of a distinct history, culture, language and identity to form the basis of their nationalist discourse and claims for selfdetermination (Keating, 1988;Elias, 2008;Hepburn, 2009). This mobilisation can also be facilitated by the existence of autonomy arrangements which enable the territory to flex its capacity, and potential for even more self-government, as a political entity.…”