“VENEXIT” – VENICE SECESSION MOVEMENT

  • Aleksandar Savanović Univerzitet Banja Luka, Fakultet političkih nauka

Abstract


The research analyses the Veneto's secessionist movement. Focus of the research is on 2014 plebiscit. As a wider theoretical framework for research we will use the theory of the social contract as the mainstream approach in contemporary political philosophy, with huge relevance for our understanding of the political community. According to this theoretical model, secession is legally possible only-and-only-if there is a consent or consensus from all sides within political community. Usually (in political practice), this means that there is some kind of agreement between secessionists and the central government. Other sorts of arguments (economic, cultural, and historical) cannot provide a sufficient justification for secession. Mandatory reason for secession is the consent of others. Other reasons are not sufficient, but these reasons are non-mandatory also. Secession is possible by the consent of others, even without any other reason except request of secessionists to leave their present state. Discussion about Veneto case from 2014 was a typical example of this theoretical approach. Requests from the cultural, economical and historical facts were correct (often and in many cases), and has been possible to defend these arguments in correct scholarly debate and analysis. Nevertheless, absence of consent of the government in Rome, prevents any legal consequences for changing the status of Veneto.

Author Biography

Aleksandar Savanović, Univerzitet Banja Luka, Fakultet političkih nauka
Assoiate Professor

References

Alfano, A. (2014) Esiste una questione veneta. Corriere Del Veneto, 28 April.

Antonini, A. (2014) Indipendenza, i numeri sono falsi. Corriere Del Veneto, 26 March.

Bartkus, V. (2004) The Dynamic of Secession (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)

Baer J., (2000) “Who, Why and How: Assessing the legitimacy of Secession”, SwissPolitical Science Review vol.6, no.3, pp: 45-69;

Bellamy, R. (2007) Political constitutionalism: a republican defence of the constitutional democracy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)

Beran, H. (1987) The Consent Theory of Political Obligation (London: Croom Helm)

Bernardini, P. (2014) Inside Venice’s Secession Movement, Mises daily articles, 26 May.

Bertolissi, M.(2014) Una Via Legale Non Esiste, Corriere Del Veneto, 20 March.

Bortolussi, G. (2015) Il Nord da'in solidareieta' al resto del pease 100 miliardi all'anno, CGIA Mestre, 14 Feb.

Buchanan, A. (1991) Secession (San Francisco: Westview Press)

Buchanan, J. (1975) The Limits of Liberty: Between Anarchy and Leviathan (Chicago: University of Chicago)

Caney Simon, (1997) “Self-Government and Secession: The Case of Nations”, The Journal of Political Philosophy: Volume 5, Number 4, pp. 351–372;

Chen Yan, Ordeshook Peter C., (1994) “Constitutional Secession Clause“, (Constitutional Political Economy, vol. 5, no. 1, pp:45-60)

The Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro.

The Constitution of the Italian Republic.

Constitutional court judgement S118-2015 (2015) Corteconstituzionale: Sentenza n. 118-2015.

Crouzet-Pavan, E. (2000) Toward an ecological understanding of the Myth of Venice. In: J.Mertin and D.Romano (eds) Venice Reconsidered (Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press)

Fasone, C. (2015) ‘Italian-style’ secession and the semi-indifference of national politics. VerfBlog http://verfassungsblog.de/italian-style-secession-and-the-semi-indifference-of-national-politics/ (accessed 13 March 2017)

Ford, M., (2014) Europe's Latest Secession Movement: Venice? The Atlantic, 24 March.

Giannangeli, M. (2012) Venice calls for freedom. Express, 21 October.

Gilbert, M. (2006) A Theory of Political Obligation (New York: Oxford University Press)

Henderson, A. (2015) How to secede from your country: a story of Venetian independence. NomadCapitalist, 6 June. http://nomadcapitalist.com/2015/05/06/how-to-secede-venetian-independence/ (accessed 22 April 2016)

Kant, I. (2005) Metaphysics of Morals (New York: Dover Publications)

Kington, T. (2014) Veneto residents support leaving Italy in unofficial referendum. The Telegraph, 21 March.

Klosko, G. (2005) Political Obligations (New York: Oxford University Press)

Kofman, D. (1998) Rights of secession, [Society, Vol 35, no. 5, pp:30-38]

Marcelo G. Kohen (2001) “International law is the most appropriate moral answer to territorial conflicts”, Geopolitics, vol.6, no.2, pp:169-173;

Legge Regionale n. 15 del 19 giugno 2014: Referendum consultivo sull'autonomia del Veneto.

Lehning, P. (1998) Theories of Secession (New York: Routledge)

Locke, J. (1980) Second Treatise of Government (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company).

Marušić, M. (2016) Povratak Dubrovačke Republike – treba li se Dubrovnik odcjepiti od Hrvatske i biti samostalna država, Dubrovački Dnevnik, 25 April.

Mises, L. (1985) Liberalism (San Francisco: Cobden Press)

Nozick, R. (1999) Anarchy, State and Utopia (Oxford: Blackwell Publishers)

Perina, G. (2012) Veneto, anche gli immigrati favorevoli all'indipendenza. L'Indipendenza, 20 January.

Veneto Stato (2008) Programma del Partito Nazionale Veneto.

Rawls, J. (1999) Theory of Justice (Harvard University Press)

Risolutione n.42: “I Popoli di ieri e di oggi ed il diritto di altodeterminazione” (n. 43 Prot. n. 3631; 85a Seduta pubblica – Mercoledì 22 aprile 1998). Il Consiglio Regionale del Veneto.

Risolutione n.44: “Il diritto del popolo Veneto alla compiuta attuazione della propria autodeterminazione”. Il Consiglio regionale del Veneto (Resolution 44: Venetian People’s right to the complete implementation of self-determination, Regional Council of Veneto, 139th Public Session, 28 November 2012)

Rösch, G., (2000) The Serrata of the Great Council and Venetian Society, 1286-1323. In J. Mertin and D.Romano (eds) Venice Reconsidered. (Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press, pp. 67-88)

Rosulek P., (2011) “On the Moral Justification of Secession, Critical Remarks to Mainstream Theories” , Journal of Political Science and Theory, vol. 5, no.2; pp.122.

Savanović, A. (2014) “Economic Sovereignty”, Proceedings of 12th International Academic Conference; Prague, Czech Republic. Prague: IISES, pp. 1007-1026.

Squires, N. (2014a) President of Veneto joins campaign for Venetian independence from Italy. The Telegraph, 19 March.

Squires, N. (2014b) Venice prepares for referendum on secession from Italy. The Telegraph, 14 March.

Squires, N. (2014c) Venice independence movement 'turns to terrorism'. The Telegraph, 02 April.

UNESCO (2015) Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. 9 November.

Venice votes on splitting from Rome. (2014) BBC News, 16 March.

Veneto ‘independence plot’: Italy police arrest 24, seize ‘tank’. (2014) Russia Today, 2 April.

Willan, P. (2014) Venetians vote to say ‘arrivederci’ to Italy. The Times, 18 March.

Young Robert A. (1994) “The Political economy of secession – the case of Quebec“ [Constitutional Political Economy, vol.5, no.2, pp:221-245]

Published
2018/10/22
Section
Original Scientific Paper