Secessionist movements in the European Union from supra-national integration to national disintegration: Scottish and Catalan cases

In spite of The European Union's ideal of European integration through common politics, identity and similar components, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy and Belgium have encountered political, economic, social and cultural based secessionist movements. These movements have caused a dilemma in terms of European integration. On the other hand, Scottish and Catalan cases of secessionism have been placed in a position that is dissimilar to other secessionist movements in European countries. These two cases, have held the qualities required by being acknowledged as nation and maintained a strong social consensus towards disintegration. They have implicated having an economic potential of supporting themselves also after the disintegration. It is thought that the European integration has an impact on the secessionist movements within the context of regionalization. In addition to this, other factors than regionalization policies of Europe have taken part in demands on disintegration. The basic justification of disintegration related to the Scottish and Catalan should be scrutinized in disagreements appeared in sharing their economic resources both today and in their history. Throughout this dissertation, the disintegration demands of the Scottish and Catalan will be examined within cognitive, theoretical, historical and economic framework and the interaction of aforesaid demands with regionalization policies of the European Union will be revealed. Just Cause Theories with the demands of the Scottish and Catalan; The English School Theory along with the current positions of the United Kingdom, Spain and the European Union that are against secessionist movements will be given a meaning. Along with theoretical justification, the historical processes and economies of both the Scottish and Catalan will be approached and the impact of the Union's regionalization policies will be scrutinized in detail. Thus, an answer will be sought to the question of why secessionist movements have a tendency to gain power when it is tried to improve and deepen the integration in the European Union and member countries. KEY WORDS: Scottish Secessionism, Catalan Secessionism, Nationalism, Just Cause Theories, English School Theory