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Partial decentralization as a way to prevent secessionist conflict

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  • Flamand, Sabine

Abstract

We study secessionist conflict driven by cultural and economic motives in a political union of two regions, and analyze under what conditions partial decentralization may serve as a conflict-mitigating strategy. While the probability of a successful secession is increasing in heterogeneity, it is increasing in interregional income inequality if and only if the union is socially efficient to start with. If the cost of diversity decreases proportionally with decentralization, there always exists a range of decentralization levels compatible with peace. Greater inequality always widens this range but greater heterogeneity widens the range if and only if the union is efficient. The decentralization level implemented to prevent conflict relates to the underlying secession probability. If decentralization is not reversible, peace is not self-enforcing, yet multiple rounds of decentralization can be used to postpone the eventual date of secession.

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  • Flamand, Sabine, 2019. "Partial decentralization as a way to prevent secessionist conflict," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 159-178.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:poleco:v:59:y:2019:i:c:p:159-178
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2019.02.007
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    Cited by:

    1. Morelli, Massimo & Esteban, Joan & Flamand, Sabine & Rohner, Dominic, 2020. "A Dynamic Theory of Secessionist vs Centrist Conflict," CEPR Discussion Papers 14635, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Enriqueta Aragonès & Clara Ponsatí, 2021. "The stability of multi-level governments," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 33(1), pages 140-166, January.
    3. Stephen Ansolabehere & M. Socorro Puy, 2020. "Constitutions, Federalism, and National Integration," Working Papers 2020-04, Universidad de Málaga, Department of Economic Theory, Málaga Economic Theory Research Center.
    4. Ansolabehere, Stephen & Puy, M. Socorro, 2022. "Constitutions, federalism, and national integration," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    5. Tranchant, Jean-Pierre, 2016. "Decentralisation, Regional Autonomy and Ethnic Civil Wars: A Dynamic Panel Data Analysis, 1950-2010," MPRA Paper 72750, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Cerniglia, Floriana & Longaretti, Riccarda & Zanardi, Alberto, 2021. "How to design decentralisation to curb secessionist pressures? Top-down vs. bottom-up reforms," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 377-390.
    7. Joan Esteban & Sabine Flamand & Massimo Morelli & Dominic Rohner, 2018. "A Dynamic Theory of Secession," HiCN Working Papers 276, Households in Conflict Network.
    8. Dario Maimone Ansaldo Patti & Pietro Navarra & Giuseppe Sobbrio, 2022. "Insecure Property Rights and Conflicts: How to Solve Them?," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-32, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Secession; Conflict; Inequality; Decentralization; Heterogeneity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism

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