Canada and India have experienced regional separatist movements which endangered the unity of their respective countries. The intensity of these movements varied from time to time and in each case, prompted a response from the central authority. Notwithstanding Canada and India’s very different historical and sociological past, procedures to ensure unity have been a balancing an act of force and reforms, and both countries have succeeded so far to avoid a break-up of their union. This paper examines and compares Canadian and Indian response to such threat and details how each government has enacted laws, programs and policies aimed at defusing separatism.
