Using a cross-national, quantitative study and a detailed case study of the pro-independence Scottish National Party, demonstrates that supranational integration and subnational fragmentation are related in theoretical and predictable ways. Posits that the EU makes smaller states more viable and politically attractive by diminishing the relative economic and political advantages of larger-sized states. "Rather than weakening the forces of nationalism among member states, the expanding power of the European Union actually fosters conditions favorable to regionalist movements within traditional nation-states. Using a cross-national, quantitative study of the advent of regionalist political parties and their success in national parliamentary elections since the 1960s, along with a detailed case study of the fortunes of the pro-independence Scottish National Party, Seth K. Jolly demonstrates that supranational integration and subnational fragmentation are not merely coincidental but related in a theoretical and predictable way. At the core of his argument, Jolly posits the Viability Theory: the theory that the EU makes smaller states more viable and more politically attractive by diminishing the relative economic and political advantages of larger-sized states. European integration allows regionalist groups to make credible claims that they do not need the state to survive because their regions are part of the EU, which provides access to markets, financial institutions, foreign policy, and other benefits. Ultimately, Jolly emphasizes, scholars and policy-makers must recognize that the benefits of European integration come with the challenge of increased regionalist mobilization that has the potential to reshape the national boundaries of Europe."--Publisher information.

Regionalist parties in western Europe : Comparative framework ; Concepts and definitions ; Classifying regionalist parties ; Rising regionalists? ; Discussion -- The viability of regionalist parties : Regionalist mobilization in western Europe ; European integration and the viability of small states ; Preferences matter, but which preferences? ; Alternative theories ; Research design ; Discussion -- Regionalist political party success : Modeling regionalist party success ; Where do regionalist parties compete? ; Does European integration affect regionalist party incidence? ; What explains regionalist party success? ; Discussion -- Euroskeptic and Europhile regionalists : Competing hypotheses ; Data and methods ; The regionalists and the EU ; Analysis ; The SNP and the "independence in Europe" policy ; Discussion -- Public support for the EU and decentralization : Citizens and the viability theory ; Support for European integration ; Scotland ; The Scottish referenda on devolution ; Similar preferences, different outcomes? ; Discussion -- Conclusion -- Appendixes : Regionalist party vote shares, by country ; Cultural difference by language families ; Incidence and success ; Survey questions.