Secessionist Movements, Democratization Processes and Power Dynamics

Not only the society is divided between elites and citizens within a social framework that entails conflict (Acemoglu & Robinson, 2005); elites, in themselves, as conflictual towards power conquer and sharing dynamics while developing strategies towards the defense of their own preferences. This is particularly relevant in democratization contexts. Thus, how can we look at the foundational moment towards democracy if there are secessionist movements particularly identified with territorial distinctiveness? Will the central state attempt to prevent major instability in the democratization process by forbid their existance or by limiting their power struggles via the attribution of existing secessionist moments like in Portugal), or, other way around, by permitting the representation of polarized social preferences with independentist movements (i.e., Spain or France)? With that in mind, we would like to address the role of the secessionist movements in democratization processes around Europe, starting with the Portuguese case. We believe that institutional arrangements were central for the stability of the state already towards an historical rupture moment serving to the local elites to overcome potential instability, probable violence, and the preservation of the Status Quo despite the Regime change. We will address these questions with newly gathered date from the Portuguese democratization process and respective actors' behaviour and institutional specificities.