Group-Sovereignty Conflict

Abstract

This chapter explores conflicts that centre on group sovereignty. In such conflicts, two or more identity-based groups compete for political dominion within a specific territory. We introduce group sovereignty in broad terms as a concept in political and constitutional theory. We also offer some initial suggestions for the design of a deliberative peace referendum to take account of group sovereignty elements in conflict. We contend that this element cannot be ignored or wished away, but must be accommodated—for instance, by means of a rule of ‘concurrent consent’ in the referendum. Such a rule requires a majority vote within each of the distinct groups in conflict. A critical question raised, however, is the degree to which deliberation is feasible when we give group identity (the root cause of many deliberative pathologies) a robust role in the deliberative peace referendum.