The Urgency to Develop a Sense of Togetherness in Divided Societies : Thinking Outside of the Box.

Résumé

In the context of divided polities, this article discusses the urgency to challenge the dominant centralist stand in favor of a vision founded on the principles of coordination, non-subordination, and consent. Such an endeavor would contribute to appease political tensions as states – formed of distinctive demoi – would give a fairer and more equal hearing to its constitutive parts. The argument is made that it is crucial not to satisfy oneself with an approach based solely on the «right to choose» since, in such a scenario, political communities would be trapped in a legal straitjacket limiting their ability to act. It is important to assess conflicts of claims based first and foremost on the very notion of legitimacy rather than legality.