Territorial Pluralism: Managing Difference in Multinational States

Territorial pluralism is a form of political autonomy designed to accommodate national, ethnic, or linguistic differences within a state. It has the potential to provide for the peaceful, democratic, and just management of difference. But given traditional concerns about state sovereignty and unity, how realistic is it to expect that a state will agree to recognize and empower distinct substate communities? The contributors to this book answer this question by examining a wide variety of cases, including in developing and industrialized states and democratic and authoritarian regimes. They find that territorial pluralism remains a legitimate and effective means for managing difference in multinational states.

Karlo Basta is assistant professor of political science at Memorial University of Newfoundland. John McGarry is Canada Research Chair in Nationalism and Democracy in the department of political studies at Queen's University. Richard Simeon was professor emeritus at the University of Toronto and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.