up-following

Stephen Harper has claimed that Canada's decision to support Kosovo will have no bearing on Quebec. Read here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080320.KOSOVO20/TPStory/?query=harper+kosovo

Unlike my post a few days ago, the article focuses on the precedent Ottawa might set for Quebec by recognizing Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. It's not exactly what I was talking about, but nonetheless interesting.

Some highlights from the article:

"Both sovereigntists and federalists in Quebec underscored important differences between Quebec and Kosovo, which was marred by conflict and ethnic cleansing in the wake of the breakup of Yugoslavia."

Political scientist Stephen Saideman, a scholar of separatism at McGill University, said Kosovo and Quebec are so different that Ottawa's decision would have little impact.

"Over the past 40 years, Ottawa and Quebec have negotiated and bargained to give Quebec most of what it wants, whereas in Kosovo, the Kosovars never saw a chance of being a significant member of the political community in Serbia," said Prof. Saideman, Canada Research Chair in International Security and Ethnic Conflict.

But Alain Gagnon, a political scientist at the University of Quebec in Montreal, said Canada's blessing would certainly provide inspiration for Canada's homegrown independence movement. "[Kosovo] is a full-fledged nation that decided to exercise its right to self-determination," said Prof. Gagnon, Canada Research Chair in Quebec and Canadian Studies. "It offers proof that independence is a realistic and feasible project."