Reflections on Stein Rokkan's Conceptual Map of Europe*

Among the leading scholars studying nation-building and national development Stein Rokkan (1921–1979) has had an unique position because of his ability to combine different approaches, to focus on both the general and the unique, and to use both quantitative measurement and qualitative data. Among his most enduring and original contributions is his conceptual map of Europe. It is an elaborate but in principle open typology or system of classification accounting for the main principles of geopolitical differentiation in Western Europe. Despite its theoretical character it clearly shows the spatial order and structure in the development of national states in Europe. This paper analyses both the content of the main dimensions in Rokkan's conceptual map and its nature as a heuristic frame of reference and large-scale research program. References are made to the recent ethnic revival which seems to be hard to explain and understand without considering many distinctions and concepts presented in Rokkan's conceptual map.