Separatist movements in Europe: motives and results

Abstract

The momentum of separatist calls in Europe has increased since the financial crisis, beginning in 2008 and until now. The voices of those demanding independence from their countries in Europe became louder with the austerity policies imposed by the European Union on the countries most affected by the financial crisis.
Some believe that the financial crisis, in addition to the national factor, fueled the calls for secession. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party demanded full autonomy despite the existence of a special parliament for Scotland. The party’s demands prompted London to agree to organize an independent referendum, but the Scots voted by a majority against secession. However, the results of the British Brexit in 2016, and the subsequent demand for Britain to withdraw from the European Union, sparked the conflict again between Scotland, which wished to remain in the European Union, and the rest of the British regions wishing to secede. There is a tendency in the region to hold a second referendum to determine the fate of future ties.