The fragility of unions: the United Kingdom and Moldova

Abstract

The emergence of majority unionism represents a threat to the stability of a union. Majority unionism drives policy and this is often met with centrifugal responses. This is a matter of institutional design, since institutional mechanisms to prevent such majoritarianism can and should be built into agreements on unions. The intensity of disputes between the centre and smaller region over policy and the viability of alternative political arrangements effect how great a threat to the union is posed by majority unionism.