News archive

Voters in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia have rejected a bid for independence. Final results showed that 56.4% chose to remain part of France while 43.6% voted to leave. New Caledonia is an archipelago in the southwest Pacific Ocean. While some powers have been devolved to the islands, their population are French citizens and vote in the country's elections. While the indigenous Kanak people represent about 40% of the population, people of European descent make up about 27%. New Caledonia has seen deep divisions between its indigenous Kanak population and Europeans, most notably over the thorny question of independence. Read more...

This trilingual bibliography (German, Italian and English) on the self-governance of South Tyrol contains not only general entries on the special autonomy of the province, but also a more specific selection of the most relevant contributions on topics such as history, conflict resolution, minority protection, areas of competence, financial autonomy, electoral system. It is a helpful tool for scholars, students and public officials as well as for general public interested in these topics. Download the e-book here.

Spain's prime minister has proposed a referendum on whether Catalonia should be given greater autonomy, in a bid to dampen tensions between Madrid and Barcelona. One poll conducted for El Periodico newspaper in July found that 62 per cent of Catalans backed greater self-governance, compared with 22 per cent who supported full independence from Spain. However, the Catalan leader Quim Torra insists on a referendum on full independence from Spain rather than just a referendum on more powers. Read more…

This report co-authored by Karl Kössler, Francesco Palermo, Jens Woelk, researchers at the Institute for Comparative Federalism of Eurac Research aims to provide insights regarding the substance of autonomy regimes worldwide with a view to identifying and illustrating options for the status of Bougainville within Papua New Guinea. The report cites considerations of geography, history and the management of ethno-cultural diversity which often prompt national governments and regions to settle on some form of autonomy as a compromise solution, as a "middle way" between a centralised unitary state and own statehood. Read more…

Philippine Congress approved a bill that outlines the process to set up the autonomous region of Bangsamoro. Bangsamoro Basic Law is the result of a 2014 peace deal between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government to end nearly 50 years of violent conflict. While Bangsamoro will have its own executive, legislature and fiscal powers, the central government will continue to oversee defense, security, foreign affairs, and monetary policy. Read more...​

Quebec Superior Court declared discriminatory and unconstitutional a long-standing ​rule of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake reserve, according to which Mohawk people who marry non-natives must leave the community. The judgment establishes limits on native autonomy. The Mohawk Council defends the so-called "Marry Out, Get Out" law as a way of safeguarding Mohawk land and culture. However, the Court held that the Mohawk Council failed to demonstrate how its membership law was helping protect the community's culture or resources, and concluded that the law violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on the basis of family status and civil status. Read more...