Ethnicity, mobilization and teritory :an overview recent experiences

Abstract

This paper does not provide detailed discussions or specific cases or linkages between etlUlic groups, political mobilization and territory, but it is concerned with debates on explanatory general models or these phenomena. The paper attempts to capture some reatures common to a variety or situations and cases in the postcommunist part or Eurasia as well as in the Atlantic area. First, it is concerned with the question or what general model connecting modernization process with ethnonational political mobilization seems successrul in explaining the salience or ethnicity in politica!, economic and cultural afTairs in the Eurasian and Atlantic regions. Second, it deals with general modalities or territorial autonomy and selr-government accommodating the variety or ethnonational aspirations and demands. Finally, the paper draws some generallessons and indicates some hypotheses relating to these phenomena and issues.