Abstract
Many countries are faced with ethnic conflict and the necessity of the protection of national minorities. Regional territorial autonomy is a legal-political device to combine minority protection with internal self-determination in a regional framework, without changing the concerned state’s boundaries. By that way in about 60 regions within at least 22 states serious and protracted state-minority-conflicts could be solved in a sustainable manner, giving space to a new partnership between the central state and the regional community. After a theoretical introduction in the political concept of autonomy the author takes you on “a travel through the world of the operating autonomy systems”, today existing in all continents. In a functional analysis the main issues of territorial autonomy are compared in their practical application, typical elements are worked out, success factors explained and perspectives of further development highlighted. Regional autonomy is a precious experience of political organisation in a growing number of regions in the world. In many current conflict scenarios it offers an important concept of conflict solving and minority protection. A comprehensive insight in the world of the autonomous regions not only for experts.