Note 9 — Chapter II · TOWARD A UNITARY STATE

These concepts of “unitarism” and “federalism” must be compared with “centralism” and “particularism,” which correspond to them, but which, nevertheless, also differ from them. When one speaks of “particularism” one means, beyond the legal and political differences which may exist between the member states of a federated state, the peculiarities of race, special traits of culture, geographic and ethnographic characteristics which give to populations their own stamp and a distinct collective sentiment. Political “particularism” and federalist tendencies may co-exist naturally; but “particularism” is not necessarily anti-centralistic: a “particularism” inspired by the love of a little fatherland and its individuality gives to the population a certain national consciousness which is not necessarily antagonistic to the establishment of a strong central power. On the other hand “unitarism,” if it preserves for the state the character of a federated state and does not tend to a complete fusion of the member states, may well recognize that races and provinces wish for individual existence and may be ready to accord them corresponding liberty.