Conflitti separatisti. Caucaso meridionale, Europa orientale e Balcani (1991–2014) By Loretta Dell'Aguzzo. Roma: Carocci editore, 2020. 190 p., 21 Euros

Abstract

Political claims concerning state territorial transformation, secessionism and separatism still constitute a relatively understudied issue in political science. Scholars such as Radan (2012) have debated at length whether the study of separatism belongs more to International Relations or to domestic politics. Different scientific approaches seeking to analyse similar phenomena are sometimes rigidly framed by geographical area and local contexts (such as decolonization in Africa or pro-independence demands in Western Europe), with no or little regard for trans-national aspects. They may apply the same scientific concepts but fail to bridge epistemic diver-gences. Independentism, separatism, secessionism, annexationism, irredentism are striking examples of such an epistemic confusion. Moreover, scholars seldom contextualize these very different political phenomena, in spite of important regional and international contextual factors. Nonetheless, crucial issues comparative politics nations nationalism, regionalism, sub-state ethnic identities, regional/national culture and language, crucial explana-tory or intervening factors for understanding independentism and secessionism in general.