The autonomous province of South Tyrol in Northern Italy is generally considered to be one of the most successful examples for the accommodation of minorities. The autonomy arrangement is characterized by detailed legal safeguards and strong guarantees creating a special and unique position within the Italian legal system. The analysis of the experiences gathered during decades of implementation and working autonomy gives valuable insights regarding the state and the evolution of this specific case as well as for the general tendencies, potential and limits of the development of territorial autonomy and minority-protection.

The research work will be mainly based on years of research activity as presented in the previous publications in Italian (Cedam 2001) and German (Nomos 2004) language.  However, as it will be much shorter and addressing an English (speaking) reader not familiar with the context of the Italian or Austrian situation and history, a thorough re-organization and adaptation is necessary for meeting international standards. So far only short publications (single chapters or articles) are available in the English language on the South Tyrolean autonomy system; the publication will provide a systematic, complete and scientific analysis of this important case of working autonomy which makes it particularly interesting for academics from legal, political and social sciences as well as for all those interested in minority-issues and conflict-resolution.
The book will not only be useful in the various programs and teaching activities the Institute is organizing or participating in, it will also make the latter much more known at international level.

The book offers a profound analysis of the foundations, the special position and the evolution of the South Tyrolean autonomy in the Italian legal system.
Starting with the illustration of the international "anchoring" and the basic laws (autonomy statute and enactment decrees), the main focus is on the evolution of the characteristic legal instruments and institutions of self-government and minority-protection through consociation democracy. Thus, a main interest concerns the time-dimension, as the chapters try to answer the following questions: how could today's autonomy be reached and successfully implemented? Which are the major changes to be observed? What are the objectives to be realized with minority-protection and autonomy after a period of immediate conflict-settlement and stabilization? Which are case-specific features and what lessons can be learned and applied to other situations? The analysis of the experiences gathered during decades of implementation and working autonomy gives valuable insights regarding the state and the evolution of this specific case, as well as for the general tendencies, potential and limits of the development of territorial autonomy and minority-protection.
Editors of the book are Joseph Marko, Francesco Palermo, and Jens Woelk. Authors of the single chapters are researchers from both institutes, as well as some international distinguished experts in the field of autonomy and minority-protection.