News and opinion

What Russia’s war Against Ukraine means for Self-Determination Claims Around the World
The causes and consequences of Russia’s war on Ukraine have been discussed extensively during the past two years and will likely keep international analysts busy for some time to come. There is a justified concern for the future of the liberal world order and the rules established in 1945.

Federalism and Regime Change
Most of the world’s federations have been governed by non-democratic regimes for long periods of time and have experienced several transitions between authoritarianism and democracy and vice versa. What impact has regime change had on their federal system, in particular on the distribution of powers between the federal government and the constituent units, which we can refer to as de/centralisation?

What Kilts Might Reveal: A Discussion of Scottish Government Bonds Part 2
Humza Yousaf has claimed that a Scottish bond issue would ‘demonstrate the credibility to international markets that we will need when we become an independent country’. This is questionable for several reasons.

What Kilts Might Reveal: A Discussion of Scottish Government Bonds
Read the first of Iain Hardie’s two-part analysis on the Scottish Bond Issue.

The shadow of Khalistan
The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader, by alleged agents of the Indian state outside a Surrey Gurdwara in British Columbia in June 2023 has caused a major diplomatic incident between India and Canada.

Event - The Politics of Self-Determination - 4 October 2023
Yves-François Blanchet holds a degree in anthropology and history from the University of Montreal. He entered politics in 1987, joining the Parti Québécois under the leadership of Jacques Parizeau. Blanchet was first elected to the Quebec National Assembly in 2008, becoming Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks in 2012.

The South Tyrolean People’s Party: Between continuity and change
Elisabeth Alber explores the story of the South Tyrolean People’s Party (SVP), an ethno-regionalist catch-all party representing the German- and Ladin-speaking population of Italy’s South Tyrol. This is part of a five-part blog series on non-secessionist nationalism in the Global North.

Flemish Nationalist Parties: A Qualified Success?
Dr Nicolas Bouteca and Ward Peeters explore Flemish nationalist parties in Belgium. This is part of a five-part blog series on non-secessionist nationalism in the Global North.

The Basque Nationalist Party’s long quest for a more equal partnership with Spain
In this blog Dr Caroline Gray discusses the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV). This is part of a five-part blog series on non-secessionist nationalism in the Global North.