Beyond National Borders: The troubled relationship between Corsica and Sardinia (1948-2020)

Corsica and Sardinia are two Mediterranean islands, belonging to two different mainland countries: France and Italy. The islands are separated by the Strait of Bonifacio, which at its narrow point is 13 km wide. This has enabled a bond between the population living on both sides. However, this relationship has progressively been disrupted since the 19th century. The islands can be described as an ‘impeded archipelago’, an island group where existing links were not only removed but also potential new relations have been discouraged. Nevertheless, since the second half of the 20th century, Sardinian and Corsican political and economic elites have tried to establish an island-to-island cooperation. Despite their attempts, it was just in 2016 that the Corsican and Sardinian local governments signed an agreement. This article aims to explore the concept of an impeded archipelago through a detailed analysis of the attempts made to establish an island-to-island relationship, and of the elements that have disrupted this relation, from 1948 to 2020. In doing so, it also provides some reflections on the implications and challenges of a fragmented geography and economy for Island Studies.