Subnacionalni politični odnosi z Evropsko unijo na primeru Škotske

Christie, Martin (author), Novak, Meta (mentor)

V zadnjih tridesetih letih se je raziskovanje mednarodnih dejavnosti subnacionalnih teritorialnih vlad močno razširilo, kar poudarja njihovo vse večjo vlogo kot političnih in diplomatskih akterjev. To predstavlja običajno in nesporno prakso. Kljub temu nekateri podnacionalni teritorialni akterji stremijo k neodvisnosti od svoje matične države, kar vodi v mednarodno dejavnost, ki velja za sporno. Pojem protodiplomacije poskuša opredeliti to vrsto mednarodne dejavnosti, vendar je bil do nedavnega večinoma prezrt. Posledično so se nedavne analize empiričnih primerov, kot je Škotska, soočale s pomanjkljivo teoretično osnovo. Ta analiza se osredotoča na razčlenitev konceptov paradiplomacije in protodiplomacije ter širših vprašanj, povezanih s secesionizmom v okviru evropske integracije, in razvija nov, inovativen konceptualni okvir za njihovo razumevanje. Ključni prispevek disertacije je razvoj konceptualnega okvira za protodiplomacijo, ki upošteva njeno kompleksnost. Naš nov okvir razčleni ta koncept na tri podvrste: vmesno, ustavno in neustavno protodiplomacijo. Hkrati raziskava preučuje secesionistično mobilizacijo v dobro uveljavljenem in demokratičnem političnem prostoru v Evropski uniji in njeni okolici. V ta namen je bil oblikovan strukturiran okvir, imenovan igra secesionistične suverenosti v Evropski uniji, da bi razjasnili nasprotje med secesionizmom in evropsko integracijo ter preučili, ali se na evropski ravni pojavljajo priložnosti za secesioniste. V empiričnem delu analiza ocenjuje, ali je škotska vlada spremenila svoj pristop v odnosih do Evropske unije v smer, ki bolj ustreza protodiplomatskemu ravnanju, in katere oblike protodiplomacije najbolj ustrezajo njenemu delovanju. Da bi to dosegli, analiza preučuje odnose med Škotsko in Evropsko unijo v obdobju, ki skoraj v celoti zajema obdobje devolucije, od leta 1999 do 2023. Ta analiza bo zagotovila dragocene vpoglede ne le v taktike in strategije secesionizma, ki jih uporablja škotska vlada, temveč tudi v značilnosti in stopnjo odzivnosti odločevalcev v Bruslju ter v vzdržljivost secesionistične mobilizacije znotraj Evropske unije.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: paradiplomacija, protodiplomacija, secesionizem, Škotska, Evropska unija, diplomacija.
• Work type: Doctoral dissertation
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Year: 2025
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177557
• Publication date in RUL: 24.12.2025

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Political subnational relations with the European Union in the case of Scotland

Abstract

In the last thirty years, research on the international activities of subnational territorial governments has expanded significantly, emphasising their increasing importance as political and diplomatic actors. Typically, this represents a standard and uncontroversial practice. Nevertheless, certain subnational territorial actors seek independence from their home state, leading to international activity that is considered controversial. The term protodiplomacy aims to define this type of international activity; however, it has been largely overlooked since its inception until recently. Consequently, recent analysis of empirical examples like Scotland have suffered due to deficiencies in theoretical foundation. This research aims to unpack the concepts of paradiplomacy and protodiplomacy, along with the broader issues related to secessionism in Europe integration and devise new and innovative conceptual framework to understand the concepts at play. A key contribution is developing a conceptual framework for protodiplomacy, recognising its complexities. Our new framework breaks down the concept into three sub-forms: Intermediate, Constitutional, and Unconstitutional. Additionally, this research examines secessionist mobilisation within a well-established and democratic political arena in and around the European Union (EU). With this aim, we create a structured framework, termed the Secessionist Sovereignty Game in the European Union, to unpack the contradiction between secessionism and European integration, investigating whether opportunities exist for secessionists at the European level. Transitioning into empirical analysis, this study will evaluate if the Scottish Government has shifted its approach in dealings with the European Union to that more characteristic of protodiplomatic behaviour, and if so, which sub-form(s) of protodiplomacy best characterise the Scottish Government’s actions. To accomplish this, the research examines Scottish-European Union relations over a broad period, spanning nearly the entire devolution era from 1999 to 2023. This study will provide valuable insights not only into the secessionist tactics and strategies used by the Scottish Government but also into the nature, level of receptiveness by decision-makers in Brussels, and durability of secessionist mobilisation within the European Union.

• Keywords: paradiplomacy, protodiplomacy, secessionism, Scotland, European Union, diplomacy.