Journal on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe Vol 17, No 3, 2018, 4-44. Copyright © ECMI 2018 This article is located at: http://www.ecmi.de/fileadmin/downloads/publications/JEMIE/201 8/Anderson_intro.pdf Overview: the Diversity and Complexity of Separatist Movements in Europe Alan B. Anderson* University of Saskatchewan Of 42 independent countries in Europe (excluding mini-states, dependencies, and counting the four states together comprising the United Kingdom as a single country), almost all contain territorial-based ethnic minorities which have been, continue to be, or may potentially be engaged in separatist movements.1 While ‘separatism’ is often equated with full political secession, separatist movements – broadly defined – may actually range from secession to autonomy.2 Secessionist movements seek complete independence from an existing country. They may include militant independence movements, involving violence initiated by secessionists; violent state repression of secessionism; or non-violent democratic secessionism. Autonomist movements aim at achieving, strengthening, or maintaining political autonomy within an existing country, short of independence. Such movements may be working toward the achievement of autonomy; or may aim at increasing or strengthening existing autonomy; whereas some autonomous regions may simply be content with existing autonomy (the status quo). Several relatively newly independent countries have recently acquired their independence * Alan B. Anderson is Professor Emeritus of Sociology and a former chair of the International Studies Program at the University of Saskatchewan (Canada). Correspondence details: e-mail:
[email protected]. JEMIE Vol 17, No 3, 2018 due to the dissolution of previous federations, and indeed some historic countries with a strong nationalistic identity wish to break away from existing federations.