Cooperating Regionalist and Autonomy Movements in Europe : The Incentives and Effects of Transnational Networks

ISBN-13: 9783639122046 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 60 str.

Bela Filep

Opis

This book analyses the cooperation of regionalist andautonomy movements in Europe by focusing on theincentives and effects of the transnational networksthese movements have established. Specifically, thebook looks at two movements in Transylvania, aHungarian autonomy and a Romanian regionalistmovement. Firstly, the analysis proves that the twomovements are well interconnected transnationally.They use transnational networks as a platform forexchange of experience, (strategic) knowledge andinformation and perceive them as an instrument toincrease their bargaining power at the supranationallevel, namely the EU. Secondly, the inquiry showsthat the type of cooperation particular movementschoose depends on the size of the movement, the(ethnic) domestic support it enjoys and its externallobbying actors. Thirdly, the book points out thatthe cooperation has learning effects on individualmovements, in conceptual terms and with regard to theacquirement of strategies to galvanize external helpand to fight the own government. Moreover, the EU spromotion of regionalism and the principle ofsubsidiarity has had effects on the activities andthe activism of the two movements.

O autorze

Béla Filep holds a MSc in Geography (University of Bern) and a MA
in International Relations & European Studies (Central European
University Budapest). He is a specialist in Border Studies and
inter-ethnic relations in East Central Europe and currently
research fellow at the University of Bern in the EU 6th FP
project "Searching for Neighbours".