POLS 243 Lecture 8: Territorial Autonomy
Document Summary
Autonomy = self rule or self government. Autonomy occurs within a state , it does not mean independence. Autonomy can be given to a group (corporate autonomy) Or it can be given to a piece of territory i which a group is in the major of population (eg: quebec, in which francophones are in a majority, or scotland enjoys territorial autonomy. Devolution in a unitary state: the sovereignty aspect. What is a unitary state: can be centralized or decentralized , only one government has sovereignty , means the political power rests with the central government. Central government can take back sovereignty at any time it wants. Ex: uk is a unitary state, gives devolution to northern ireland, a form of self government controlled by protestants, they used it to control catholics. The british government decided this government had to go so they took away northern ireland"s self government.