With or without you? Perceived indispensability and opposition to separatist movements

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Sociology
• Political Science

Background:

• Positive intergroup relations often stem from perceiving subgroups as essential for societal identity and function.
• Existing research primarily focuses on minority inclusion within nation-states, neglecting separatist contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the roles of identity and functional indispensability in separatist movements.
• To understand how perceptions of indispensability influence intergroup relations and collective action intentions.

Main Methods:

• Study 1: Survey among Han Chinese (N=397) on perceptions of Tibetans and Uyghurs.
• Studies 2a & 2b: Surveys among Dutch participants (N=378, N=279) regarding Brexit and Frexit.
• Study 3: Experimental study among Dutch participants (N=405) on Frexit indispensability and anti-secessionist action.

Main Results:

• Han Chinese perceiving Tibetans/Uyghurs as indispensable showed greater willingness for anti-separatist action.
• Findings were replicated in the Dutch context concerning Brexit and Frexit.
• Experimental manipulation of indispensability increased anti-Frexit action intentions.

Conclusions:

• Perceived indispensability can foster antagonistic attitudes towards separatist movements.
• This challenges the notion that indispensability solely promotes positive intergroup relations.
• Findings enhance understanding of intergroup dynamics when subgroup interests conflict.