ABSTRACT
Many European countries have devolved several national competences downwards, to their regions. While not all the member states of the EU have a federal structure, both the Land Tirol and the Trentino-Alto Adige/Sudtirol, which constitute the border region, enjoy substantial autonomy from Austria and Italy, respectively. Austria and the Land Tirol have long been the protectors of the South Tyroleans and indeed the international controversy has been a fundamental step to advance minority rights in Trentino-Alto Adige/Sudtirol. The South Tyroleans hoped to get loose from a centralized Italy, but ended up with a centralized, Italian-dominated 'autonomous' region. The partition of Tyrol had serious consequences for its German-speakers in the south. The Italians in South Tyrol had long lived as a privileged group and had little incentive to learn German. In particular, Italy has failed to find a valid alternative between its historical responses to the German minority; namely, that of abuse of power and 'splendid isolation'.
