SEPARATISM: A CONFLICT OF INTERPRETATIONS

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of separatism through the lens ofinterpretational conflict emerging at the intersection of political, legal, cognitive, and socio-cultural dimensions.The authors argue that contemporary understanding of separatism largely depends on the national, international, and informational context in which it is conceptualized. The theoretical framework is based on both classical andmodern concepts in political science, particularly the works of T. Gurr, M. Hechter, M. Keating, and J. Sorens,representing ethnopolitical and multidimensional approaches to the analysis of separatist processes. Within the legal discourse, special attention is paid to the contradiction between the principles of state territorial integrity and the right to self-determination enshrined in the UN Charter. The authors demonstrate that international law doesnot offer a universal solution for resolving this contradiction, which results in inconsistent decisions in internationalpractice.In the political dimension, the article emphasizes the political instrumentalization of separatism: for some actors,it is seen as an expression of the right to liberation, while for others – as a threat to sovereignty. Comparative case studies of Kosovo, Crimea, Scotland, Catalonia, and Taiwan illustrate the conflicting approaches to legitimizingor delegitimizing separatist entities. A separate focus is given to the informational and cognitive aspect ofinterpretational conflict, especially the role of media campaigns, digital technologies, narratives, and social media in shaping public perception of separatism. It is shown that the battle for interpretation has become an independentfront of cognitive warfare, where informational influence can be as significant as physical confrontation.The socio-cultural dimension of interpretation includes the analysis of historical models of autonomism,linguistic and cultural specificity, identity, and political culture in shaping the legitimacy of separatist aspirations.The authors argue that in contexts with strong unitary traditions (e.g., France, Turkey), even moderate demands for autonomy provoke political tensions, whereas in federal or multiethnic states (e.g., Spain, the United Kingdom,Iraq), separatism often manifests as a long-term and open political process. The article concludes that understanding separatism in the 21st century is impossible without accounting for the multidimensional nature of its interpretations,which depend on geopolitical, informational, and cultural factors shaping the contours of global security.