11.1 POLITICAL CHALLENGES AND CHANGES

Demonstrators in London gathered in March 2019 in support of Brexit, highlighting the cultural and economic impacts on Europe. Devolution challenges state sovereignty and can lead to destabilization through various factors:

1. Devolution: The process where states face pressures that can destabilize them, leading to loss of unity.

   • Example: The dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s illustrates how devolution can lead to fragmentation into independent states.

2. Physical Geography: Distance from the center of power can challenge governance, as illustrated by the Philippines' fragmented islands.

   • Example: The remote location of the island provinces can create difficulties in delivering government services and enforcing laws effectively.

3. Ethnic Separatism: Groups identifying more with their ethnicity than the state can push for autonomy, seen in cases like Basque Country.

   • Example: The Basque separatist group ETA advocated for independence from Spain, emphasizing cultural identity over national affiliation.

4. Economic Disparities: Regional economic divisions can fuel demands for more control over local resources, as seen in Canada and Catalonia.

   • Example: Catalonia, which has a strong economy, has sought independence in part because it contributes significantly to Spain's GDP but receives less investment back.

5. Irredentism: Territorial claims based on ethnic or cultural similarities, exemplified by Russia's annexation of Crimea.

   • Example: Russia justified its annexation of Crimea by claiming historical ties and the desire to protect ethnic Russians living there.

6. Technological Impact: Advances in technology enable better organization for separatist movements, complicating state control.

   • Example: Social media has been used by groups like the Scottish National Party to mobilize support and communicate effectively among supporters.

7. Responses to Devolution: States may respond by decentralizing power or granting autonomy to appease regional demands, as seen in Canada and Belgium. However, unresolved tensions can lead to violence or civil strife, demonstrated by Sudan and the Soviet Union's dissolution.

   • Example: In Canada, the province of Quebec has been granted significant autonomy and cultural recognition in an effort to manage separatist sentiments, whereas unresolved issues in Sudan led to a violent civil war during the country's split into Sudan and South Sudan in 2011.