German-speaking in Belgium and Italy :two different autonomy arrangements

Abstract

This contribution demonstrates how different regional, national and international contextual conditions of the Gern1an-speaking minorities in Belgium and in Italy have led to different autonomy arrangements. The two autonomy arrangements are accomrnodated in the state structure in different ways as a result of different balances between the centrifugal capacities of the concerning German-speaking minority and the centripetal capacities of the concerning state. In this respect, also the roles of Austria or Germany have had different impacts. Despite considerable differences in the autonomy arrangements, the two cases have in common that a combination ofterritorial and non-territorial principles were applied. Especially in the multi-ethnic homeland ofthe German-speaking in Italy, a combination ofterritorial and non-territorial elements seems to be adequate. Especially for non-territorial elements of autonomy the presence of a German-speaking neighbour country has been an important enabling condition.