 |
|
Self determination vs. democratisation
The proclamation of democratic values has become an integral part of the legitimising strategy used by de facto states. This change is to a large extent driven by a perceived external pressure to democratise and it results in a complex interplay between democracy, self-determination and non-recognition. The emphasis on democracy does not replace past claims to independence based on self-determination and grievances; rather it constitutes an extension of existing narratives. But this new legitimising strategy contains significant tensions which point in the direction of a new sub-type of (diminished) democracy: a non-recognised ethnic democracy. Such a regime is, however, very unstable: it involves the contestation of identity, it opens up for new internal dynamics and could potentially influence the prospect for conflict resolution.
This argument was first presented in “Self-Determination vs. Democracy? Democratisation in De Facto States,” Paper presented at the 2008 ISA Annual Convention in San Francisco, 26-29 March 2008. Read it here
I am currently revising and updating this paper and will shortly submit it to a journal for publication.
|
|
|
