Moralism in theories of secession: a realist perspective

Abstract

Moral reasoning is the most common approach to secession in political philosophy. Just‐cause, choice and liberal‐cultural theories rely on moral conceptions of political authority. This article examines an alternative view through an exploration of moral theories of secession from a realist perspective. Realism has recently seen a revival as a form of normative political philosophy and focuses on political disagreement and legitimacy rather than rights and moral analysis. I claim that realism would reject utopianism and moralism present in theories of secession. Instead of regarding secession as a right, realism would frame secession as a political option. According to this view, this article explores a realist theory of secession that would be based on the priority of politics and disagreement among other concepts. This would be a middle‐ground theory, compatible with liberal values and existing moral theories.

Plebiscitarianism Revisited: A Typology of Independence Referendums

“…Theories of secession tend to be moral theories on the right to secede, somewhat detached from empirical secession processes (Sanjaume-Calvet, 2020). There are generally two broad categories of theories, depending on their moral evaluation of the right to secede: primary right theories and last resort right theories.…”

Declarations of Independence after the Cold War: Abandoning grievance and avoiding rupture

“…Prominent theories around the morality of secession include, for example, remedial theories with main representative Buchanan (1991, 2004); choice theories or primary‐right theories, developed, among others, by Wellman (2005), Beran (1984), and Gauthier (1994); and nation‐orientated theories, advanced by Moore (1998), Miller (1997), and Margalit and Raz (1990). Beyond the mainstream theoretical and normative approaches to secession, Brando and Morales‐Gálvez (2019) tried to combine remedial and primary secession theories and Sanjaume‐Calvet (2020) developed a realist theory of secession proposing that secession could be viewed as a political option. Furthermore, Dalle Mulle and Serrano (2019) proposed an instrumental approach to secession, where independence is promoted as a means to improve social well‐being, economic prosperity and democratic governance.…”

The constitutional paradox of complex diversity: A systemic path towards political integration through deliberation

“…According to Marc Sanjaume-Calvet (2019), a more realistic approach to the controversy on the right to decide ‘focuses on the existing political disagreement on secession rather than on the right to secede’ and ‘it remains contextual and morally neutral on the final institutional result’ (2019, 17). In short, it consists of overcoming the moralisation of this dispute based on the priority of politics and the necessity to ground positions on arguments justified for those involved in the political arena, not moral theories.…”