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Many countries are faced with ethnic conflict and the need to protect their national minorities. Regional territorial autonomy is a legal-political device to combine minority protection with internal self-determination in a regional framework, without changing the concerned state's boundaries. Applying this method, sustainable solutions to serious and protracted state-minority conflicts have been developed in about 60 regions within at least 22 states. While aiming for new partnerships between the central state and the regional community, territorial autonomy has met with varying degrees of success in different parts of the world. After a theoretical introduction to the political concept and scope of autonomy, the author guides the reader through the multifarious world of operating autonomy systems. 'Autonomies at work' in different continents are compared and contrasted, providing a holistic view of the subject. The author's functional analysis probes the main issues of territorial autonomy and its practical applications. Typical elements are worked out, factors behind autonomy's (un/)successful operations in diverse locations are investigated and perspectives of further development are highlighted. Given the importance of regional autonomy as a means of conflict resolution and minority protection, this timely work is indispensable not just for experts and decision-makers, but also for readers interested in the political structures that shape the world around them. (Anthem Press)

This dataset provides updated and more detailed data on the 'Local Autonomy Index' (LAI) for Italy. It is part of a more articulated project seeking to explore the link between territorial policies and citizens' participation. The degree of Local Autonomy has been assessed in Italy in the two main clusters of subnational units, namely the 15 Ordinary Status Regions and the five Special Status Regions. The two clusters enjoy different constitutional and legal prerogatives, which influence the degree of autonomy of their relevant local authorities.

This dataset provides updated data on the 'Local Autonomy Index' (LAI) for a group of 8 Alpine substate entities. It is part of a more articulated project seeking to explore the link between territorial policies and citizens' participation.
The subnational entities have been selected in the Alpine Arc countries: in the Swiss confederation, the Cantons Grisons and Valais; in Italy, the Special Status Regions Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol; in the Austrian federal state, the Länder Tyrol and Vorarlberg.