The Politics of Self-Determination: Beyond the Decolonisation Process

by Kristina Roepstorff

Overview

Since the formation of the UN in 1945 the international community has witnessed a number of violent self-determination conflicts such as the disintegration of Yugoslavia, Chechnya, Kashmir, and South Sudan that have been a major cause of humanitarian crises and destruction. This book examines the scope and applicability of political self-determination beyond the decolonisation process.

Explaining the historical evolution of self-determination, this book provides a theoretical examination of the concept and background. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the author analyses self-determination in relation to contemporary conflicts, which inform and drive a coherent theoretical framework for international responses to claims for self-determination. Built upon an examination of the conceptual foundations of self-determination, this book presents a new understanding and application of self-determination. It addresses the important question of whether self-determination claims legitimate armed violence, either by the self-determining group’s right to rebel, or by the international community in the form of humanitarian intervention.

The Politics of Self-Determination will be of interest to students and scholars of political science, international relations, security studies and conflict studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415520645
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/19/2012
Series:	Routledge Advances in International Relations and Global Politics
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr Kristina Roepstorff is a Government of Canada Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Simon Fraser University Vancouver, Canada.

Table of Contents

Introduction Part 1: Self-Determination 1. Self-Determination, Decolonisation and the United Nations 2. The Shortcomings of the Current Law of Self-Determination 3. Self-Determination and the Contemporary Political Context Part 2: Conceptual Foundations of Self-Determination 4. Conceptualising Self-Determination 5. Self-Determination as a Human Right of Groups 6. Diversity and Inclusion Part 3: Realising Self-Determination 7. Secession and Independent Statehood 8. Self-Determination Short of Independent Statehood 9. Self-Determination and Armed Violence