Peripheral Elites at the Core: Power, Representation, and Central Institutions

This book examines the often-overlooked dynamics of how political actors from peripheral regions engage with central authorities to shape national policymaking. While territorial movements advocating autonomy or independence have been widely studied, this work addresses a critical gap by exploring the complex interactions between regional elites and central political actors and institutions. By intersecting with three subfields of political science—regional studies, the sociology of elites, and ethnic studies—the chapters in this volume provide a thorough analysis of the persistence of subnational characteristics in modern states. They highlight the role of peripheral elites in negotiating with central power, the tensions faced by political actors balancing regional and central identities, and patterns of convergence and divergence among peripheral elites across diverse political regimes and regions. Drawing on case studies from California and Texas (United States), the United Kingdom, Spain, Morocco, Argentina, and China, this collective work offers both theoretical and empirical insights that enrich the center–periphery debate. This book is an essential resource for students, scholars and practitioners in Political Science, Sociology, and Regional Studies and those interested in understanding the complex relationships between regional and central political actors. It will particularly appeal to readers exploring themes of governance, elite sociology, ethnic politics, and the territorial margins of contemporary states. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Territory, Politics, Governance.